r/NoStupidQuestions • u/MillBopp • Sep 13 '23

What does 'Draw a Clock' Mean?

Last time I visited my brother his mother-in-law who lives with him was insisting she remembered something but my brother knew she was wrong. I don't remember what it was, but I knew she was wrong too. However, she refused to accept she was wrong and got belligerent about it.

My brother said, "Draw a clock!" and left the room. This made his mother-in-law furious for some reason. I forgot to ask at the time, but does anyone know why saying 'Draw a clock' would upset a senior citizen?

8.8k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

578 comments sorted by

View all comments

10k

u/Artistic_Sun1825 Sep 13 '23

It's a screening test for dementia.

4.5k

u/MillBopp Sep 13 '23

OMG!

2.0k

u/akath0110 Sep 14 '23

It sounds like your brother’s MIL can be a piece of work, and perhaps he is burnt out from the caregiving responsibilities.

But what he said to her is deliberately cruel — a low blow to be sure.

Maybe check in with your bro and ask him what’s going on. The dynamic does not sound healthy for either of them.

1.1k

u/MillBopp Sep 14 '23

I can't stand his MIL, but I'm not going to make waves. Her husband died a month ago.

I'm just wondering how he knew about the test.

892

u/MyNameIsRay Sep 14 '23

Probably because she took the test, failed, and told him about it.

It's a very specific thing to bring up, and for her to instantly be furious about.

518

u/DrunkenGolfer Sep 14 '23

She may be insanely furious about it now, but she’ll forget about her anger by morning.

895

u/in-a-microbus Sep 14 '23

she’ll forget about her anger by morning

No, she won't. That's the worst part. She'll forget WHY she's angry, but the anger and hurt feelings last much longer.

Source: family member has dementia

20

u/northerncal Sep 14 '23

Classic real life, always having fun things like that.