Goodness! Must we always assume that "seeing dead people" can only mean hallucinations/psychosis/etc.?
If you are in the field of psychiatry, HOW does that profession tell the difference, between someone who might be legit seeing what others cannot, & those who are actually demented in some way?
I think, "there are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy". Science can ONLY assume that seeing ghosts or experiencing psychic things is a hallucination, because they haven't experienced anything similar. They ASSUME lack of O2 to the brain, triggers it...but they do Not know that for fact, nor can they know that lack of O2 is, or not, part of that process of getting to see things others can't.
Our family has people of all ages who've seen things others can't.
That does Not mean they are "certifiable", nor in need of mind-control drugs to numb their minds..that takes away what little autonomy they have left, destroys the dignity of their dying process, etc.
I would be far more concerned about the Nature of what someone sees: does it tell them bad things, or to do bad things? Does it upset them badly? That needs helped.
Are they taking meds that can trigger hallucinations or delusions? FIX that.
Do they have a covert UTI [those can trigger hallucinations & bad behaviors, & go unnoticed, & only need treated]?
Are they malnourished? Fix their nutrition! That is common.
If what they see is not causing stress or harm, & seems helping them feel better, WHY make a big deal of it? Especially if the person feels comforted while going through their last stretch of difficulties in this life?
Maybe, have a conversation w/them about it.
Ask questions to learn more about what the person sees. Details. In those conversations, you might learn interesting or useful family information, for instance......or, you might hear details that don't add-up, which, when brought to focus of the person, might help them stop seeing them, like the person below.
True stories:
1. Patient on morphine in hospital room bed, kept reporting to staff he saw a monkey on the wall. NONE asked him any questions of it, but charted "Patient hallucinating"--which was the wrong term.
I talked with him, & learned where he saw it, then, touched that spot he saw it. THEN he could see, the monkey he thought he saw, was a DELUSION, based on the 3 big bolts holding the TV bracket on the wall--it did look like a monkey face, even to me! Yet, staff continued to call those "hallucinations" in their charting, & failed to do anything for other hospice or other patients that was relevant or helpful, in that issue. Instead, they tried to cut his morphine! But he never reported monkey on wall again, once he knew.
2. Hospice patient was an artist; had painted a picture of a well-known medicine man, who she felt very close to, but that person lived far away.
I also knew of him, & had interactions with him at other locations/events, so I knew who she spoke of.
At a point in time when she was close to death, we talked at her bedside; she said she kept seeing him standing by her bed, telling her something, during times I was away from the shifts. So, I watched. Then I saw, too.
Then one shift, while off @ dinner, I FELT something had happened, & quickly headed back--but only got to the courtyard outside..And SAW something no one else saw: Her spirit being carried away into the moonlit night sky, by that medicine person's spirit--my watch time, matched time of death verified by her records.
I call that real. But not to others; that's OK.
Those don't generally happen to groups, nor on-demand; they happen when it's meaningful to the person.
So, Imho, someone having these experiences, Even IF demented, cannot all be assumed to be hallucinations. Sometimes, it's real--if anyone can even start to assume what is real.
When it's comforting, or gives messages or feelings of calm hope, let them have that. That's a singular gift. Validate it.

My dad has Alzheimer’s and is moderate to late stage. He is on hospice now with terminal cancer as well. He lives in an apt nearby with 24/7 help. He’s been seeing and talking to my mom( now deceased for 2 years) more recently. It brings him comfort. He also has been visited by some other deceased friends, which also makes him happy. Our hospice nurse says this is common as people get nearer to transitioning from this life to the next. I’m personally glad he feels support from his loved ones and unless or until it becomes frightening or a problem, we’ll embrace it and be thankful. Who says past loved ones can’t connect with the elderly? Their minds aren’t so noisy with all the buzz of folks without dementia. I find it refreshing.

My mother was diagnosed with dementia one year ago. Lately all she talks about is that she sees all family members and her friends who have passed. My brother being one of them. She tells us that he's there in her room taking care of her and now insists that he live across the street from her house. She gets angry because she wants us to take her to see him. She seems to be getting worse. Medication doesn't seem to help at all. It's getting very hard having to take care of her. Thank God that she is still able to shower, comb her hair, etc on her own. She is completely blind so she does need someone to cook for her.

Anyone experience their loved complain of burning pain where the crease of the thigh meets the tummy?

My mother talked to dead relatives and friends also. The strange part of this is that they didn't show up at our house until about two weeks after that died. They were
constantly in her room. At this point - you have done everything possible to help her: changes in medication; Changes in doctors and Changes in diet. Nothing helps and in fact some of the medication make the personality disorder worse. The medication seems to be helping and then after two to four weeks it doesn't help anymore or it just makes her "mean" and in some instances violent. If you are going to continue to care for your mother at home (you didn't say how long she had been conversing with the dead) you are going to have to realize that "reasoning" with her is not an option. She sees what she sees and she hears what she hears. No amount of trying to reason with her is going to help. At this point, you have to dig way down, and get a sense of humor. If you are making up or changing the bed and you put pillows in the chair where her deceased brother is sitting and she gets upset and asks you if you cannot see him in the chair. You just apologize to him and make some comment about how well he looks. Telling her that her brother has been dead for twelve years and trying to get her to remember when he died is a useless waste of time. She sees him. In her mind and eyes he is there. Its as real to her or more so than you are. Because today she might know you and in the morning she might call you by the name of a dead friend. Certain days I would ask Mother if she'd like something to drink and she'd remark that she taught me better manners than that and I should have asked everyone else first. Then I'd say I was sorry and asked if anyone would like something to drink (If they'd answered I'd probably had a heart attack!) Then I say well we'll wait a little while and maybe everyone would be thirsty or if she'd like something I'm sure they wouldn't care. I know all this sounds silly to someone who has never lived with someone with this type of dementia; however, the main point is keeping the person "calm" and with a feeling of being loved and having self-worth. There is enough "overload" going on in their brain. After going through all the medications and/or combination of medications A found just driving her around in the car seem to get her mind focused somewhere else (for a while).. Her brain and reality became as focused and changing the tv channel. Her mood would change that fast or her reality would change that fast. If she dreamed something traumatic - that was her reality. What was actually going on in her life was not reality. What she dreamed would stay with her for days. If it was something she dreamed someone had said or done to her that was "real" and you just hoped they wouldn't show up for a while. My mother had problems sleep-walking when she was a small child and as the dementia progressed she totally lived by what she "dreamed" and what the visiting dead people had to say. - Good luck!

yyyyyyyyyy, you brought up an interesting point perhaps the elderly are able to contact those who have crossed over. Of course we will never know, but if they are talking to those dearly departed, wouldn't that be wonderful.

I think that people need to accept that those trying to treat the elderly have never been there before. Speaking to dead people or seeing them may be comforting to the elderly and perhaps they are able to contact those who have crossed over. Do we have to diagnose that or can we learn from it and support our loved ones and help them find peace.

Medicare will pay for home nursing visits if your parent is homebound.
Nobody told me this at the doctor's office.
Suze Orman had to be the one to tell me.

The nurses stop by twice a week.
I am no longer alone.
And, my mother's mood has improved.
Because of the extra attention she gets!

Dear pdmj3, You arre not alone. You see your mom so helpless and you want togive so much more to make her life more comfortable. i was with my mom all the time. When she was in the hospital, live up north when she was therre, brought her be with me,and when she was in the assisting living. I was there for her , I also brought joy to the other residents since people don't like to see older folks. Her own dear friends from the neighborhood up north or church never went to visist. Only me and one of her brothers Dear george. My family was close to her until it wa near the end, she did not know htem anymore and it was sad. You do die yourself inside and sometimes you loose so much weight, you get depressed and strees out from no sleep. May be some soft music or place some pictures out or even read a book . She my not understand but the sound of your voice help. I had brought my mom a special singing bear for her birthday April 2009 ( from daughter to mom with love) it sang that's what friends are for. She had the bear to every hospital stay, with her every day and also it was placed with her when I lost her. She smiled everytime her heard it. Bless you.

My Mom is with me now, she has Alzeimer's and dementia not real bad yet. I live alone with her , I'am retired 63 yr old. My brother lives close by and helps when he can. He still works and so does his wife. I have had mom 1 yr and 3 months. She is very good and does nothing but sleep and eat. She has trouble getting to the bathroom on time and it really makes it hard on me. She can't be left alone. It is starting to effect my health. I'am now on nerve pills, stomach pills and cry a lot. I'am setting here watching her sleep and cleaning up after her, while what time I have left is slipping by. I need to put her in a home before it completely destories me. I don't get to see my children unless they stop by here. I can't go to their homes unless I take her and that is very hard on the both of us. I feel like I'am being selfish yet it hurts so much to think of putting her with people she doesn't know. There are days when she talks alot about people who have passed. She had brain surgery 10 yr ago, that on top of the Alz and Dem. makes it worse on her. Her Dr. knows her condition and is good at helping me. I feel like I'am the one dieing also. I love her so much and know that if it was me she would be right here to care for me. We look at older people and don't really think we will be there someday also. I think what helps me the most is telling myself if it was me she would be here. I'll do the best I can for as long as i can.

i WISH i HAD SOME WAKE UP CALLS WITH MY MOM. iT WAS VERY HARD. SHE LIVED IN NEW I NOTICE ON VISITS THERRE WERE SOME CHANGES.I TOLD HER DOCTOR, BUT HE JUST DISMESS ME. IT WAS NOT UNTIL MY MOM HIT ME HARD AND ALSO WAS BURNING POTS AND PUT HER HANDS AROUNG MY THROAT.AND FIRE RESUSE WAS CALLED SHE LEFT THE GAS ON. a TEST WAS DONE, AND i WAS RIGHT THE ILLNESS WAS GETTING WORSE, HE HAD HER ON NO MEDICINE FOR THE ALZHEIMERS/DEMENTIA, I MADE HIM DO IT. MOM HAD A LONG BATTLE, I DI GET HER TO FLORIDA, BUT SHE DID TALK TO PEOPLE AND DID NOT REMEMBER MANY FRIENDS. NO ONE HELP ME OUT. I DID IT FIVE YEARS KLONG DISTANCE WITH THE HELP OF NURSES AND SOCIAL WORKER, BUT SHE FELL AND WAS PLACED IN A NURSING HOME IN 2006. I BROUGHT HER TO FLORIDA, HOWEVER SHE WAS TOO HEAL FOR MYSELF TO TAKE CARE OF. I FOUND PRIVATE ASSISTING LIVING AND SHE WS THERRE TWO YEARS. SOME WHERE VERY GOOD TIMES. BUT I HAD A LOT OF BAD TIMES TOO. SHE PASSED AWAY IN MY ARMS OCT 5, 2009 AFTER THE HOSPITAL TOLD ME SHE HAD NOT LONGER TO LIVE. IT IS VERY HARD ON BOTH THE PERSON WHO IS SICK AND SOMETIMES WORSE ON THE CAREGIVER. NO ONE LISTEN, THEY HAVE NO PAIN AT TIMES. THE HOSPITAL SAID ONCE SHE CLAIMS NO PAIN, I SAID JUST LOOK IN HER EYES. IT IS A SHAME WE TRY OUR BEST.I SPOKE TO HOSPICE SINCE I HAVE A LADY NEIGHBOR WHO HAS THE SAME, SHE SAID THE SAME IF THE DOCTORS WOULD ONLY UNDERSTAND AND LISTEN TO THE FAMILY AND GET THE MEDICINE IN TO THEM EARLY IT HELPS.