My dad's wife left when she couldn't take care of him and his dementia. He has some things like a postcard and photo of her. At first he was always asking about her. I kept telling him she was with her daughter to be taken care of like how I'm taking care of him. He hasn't asked in a while, but I see him every few days with those items as he talks to himself. Would it be best to take them away so he can forget her since it makes him miss her, or is it better to let him keep them?
Regardless, It is therapeutic for someone with dementia to look at photos of the past.
He has a right to mourn the loss and as far as he knows, she's just being taken care of like like him.
Even with pictures, With Dementia, He'll eventually forget anyway, so, don't worry about it.
Juse let him reminese the good times and thoughts and never talk bad about his wife.
Too bad she couldn't at least visit him once in a while, which hopefully she knows she is welcomed to do so for your Dad. Even if you don't like her for leaving
Remove them and see what happens. If he asks for them, give them back. It might be an out of sight out of mind thing.
My mother had a collection of pictures she brought to MC with her. She would often cycle through them. I bought a small photo album to put them in, to protect them for her. For quite some time, she would go through the pix, remembering her brother and sisters, but at some point these were left on the dresser and she hasn't really touched them since (closing in on 4 years at MC.)
She is the last one left of that generation, both sides of the family and what friends haven't passed on are likely too old, frail or sick to visit, so it's all she had, besides me and the staff. I was afraid I would be forgotten, since we're not allowed to visit (since mid-March), but when someone asked about us kids, she did mention me and ALL those CATS! So, she hasn't forgotten yet!
You could test, as JoAnn29 suggested, perhaps ask for them, saying you're going to put them in an album for him to protect them and see what happens. If he gets antsy and is looking for them, do give them back. It might be some kind of solace for him.
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