Dementia patient forgets their daughter has passed and keeps trying to call her — what their nurse does next is breaking hearts
It takes patience and empathy to support a mind that no longer remembers clearly. A nurse recently shared one such experience involving a patient who repeatedly forgot that their daughter had passed away and continued trying to contact her by phone. In a TikTok video shared on March 24, 2026, the caregiver revealed how heartbreaking it was to watch the patient unknowingly relive the same grief again and again. The clip was posted under the handle @slaywithak, where the nurse shared the deeply emotional way they comforted the patient during those painful moments instead of forcing them to face the loss repeatedly.
@slaywithak I’d rather her think they are still alive than to have to grieve them over again ❤️ #fyp #dementia #dementiaawareness #nurse #nurses ♬ original sound - ❤️🩹
The short video showed the nurse holding a phone while onscreen text explained the difficult situation inside the care facility. Instead of reminding the patient about the loss every time, the nurse quietly called their own phone and allowed the patient to leave a voicemail message. Explaining in the video, “My patient forgot their daughter passed away, so every time they use the phone, I call my phone number.” The caregiver later explained in the caption that they would “rather her think they are still alive than to have to grieve them over again.” The small act was meant to protect the patient from repeatedly experiencing the shock and sadness of learning about the death again.
The video touched many hearts because it showed the emotional side of caring for someone living with dementia. Patients with memory conditions can sometimes experience painful news as if they are hearing it for the first time, making everyday situations difficult for both families and caregivers. In this incident, the nurse chose kindness over repeatedly correcting the patient, hoping to reduce emotional distress during vulnerable moments. Many internet users later praised the nurse for handling the situation with patience and compassion instead of taking a harsher approach.
@user8537100730213 wrote, "This is the perfect example of not only empathy, but a person who is in the field for the right reasons and not just a paycheck." @intoxicatedinfused mentioned, "My dad went to visit my grandma a few weeks ago, she thought he just got out of school. She’s almost 95, he’s 65." @cleighcp remarked, "My mom with dementia passed, but to even think someone would show her this kind of comfort means the world."
Sometimes it is better to protect someone’s peace than to make them relive painful truths. This is what happened in another incident when a family had to respond to a loved one living with dementia. The woman began to believe she was about to get married, and instead of correcting her, her family chose to go along with her feelings.
The situation was shared by her daughter, who explained how difficult it can be to balance truth with emotional comfort in such moments. “We surrounded her with love. And for yesterday, she was so happy,” she said, showing how the family focused on joy instead of reality. They even arranged a small bridal shower, making her feel celebrated and peaceful, even if just for a day.
For more heartwarming content, follow @slaywithak on TikTok.
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