When my clients tell me about people in the house, I get to work getting those people out of the house, then reassure them that I re-checked everything and all is secure now. Of course you should check to see if she's got a UTI, but if she's entering the first stages of Dementia, this will continue. If she were my mom I'd get coconut oil into her diet right away..
Therapeutic lying! Tell your mom those people aren't allowed to come back. Do a house check with her to show they are gone. My dad's dementia worsened when he had a leg infection, so if this is unusual behavior you may want to take her to the dr. Good luck!
Agree with all of the above; my MIL had delusions of people in her house as well with the onset of dementia. Had to reassure her that no one was there and it took a lot of convincing as it is "so real" to them. This is sad and a frightening stage. This continued when she came to live with us, and I had to take her around the house and assure her no one was there. The only thing that settled her was thinking she had a dream; in worked in her case. Take care.
Definitely have her checked for a UTI. In the past I read the stories about how an infection can affect a person with demenia and thought "oh it could'nt be that bad". Man was I wrong, having gone through two UTI's with my mom, infection is the first thing I think of when her behavior gets stranger than usual.
I can sympathize what you are going through. My 88 Yr old father is having delusions often. He calls them dreams but knows they really aren't. His doctor had previously prescribed the lowest dose of Xanax to help alleviate his constant anxiety over just about everything. My father wondered if the Xanax was causing these "dreams". He's been checked for UTI's and hasn't had any. We cut the pill in half and he still experienced the delusions. They stopped for a few weeks and now have begun again.
Just last night he woke me out of a deep sleep at 2:30 in the morning, yelling my name aloud and saying someone was pounding at our door. When he yells, he really yells (talk about your heart stopping) I had to reassure him no one was there. It always seems to be between 2:00 and 3:00 in the morning. He thinks the neighbors are either working outside digging or sawing or someone is throwing rocks at the house in addition to seeing my deceased mother or hearing other deceased relatives having conversations. I was wondering if there are any meds that might help get rid of delusions instead of contributing to their incidence. Good Luck to you and all the rest of us dealing with this issue.
The doctor prescribed Ativan for my mom for anxiety. She didn't want to take it but after one night with way to little sleep I slipped on in her medicines. Will never do that again, within 20 minutes she was totally out of it, like she was drunk. It was scary.
Last year my dad's doctor prescribed a low dose of Remeron for anxiety. We cut that pill in half for the first time he was taking it and he could barely stand and was pretty much out of it for hours. This was a very low dose. It all seems to be experimentation which is quite scary.
mallal, my best suggestion for you aside from making sure that she doesn't have an active infection is to learn to go with the flow. My mom has AD and has hallucinations constantly. The worse is at night when she says there are people in her room. I've learn to do a check of her room and closet and tell her that it looks like they are gone. During the day she is always asking about were the kids are, at 50 yrs old I am her youngest kid. However, when she asks I tell her they are outside playing or in school.
Just last night he woke me out of a deep sleep at 2:30 in the morning, yelling my name aloud and saying someone was pounding at our door. When he yells, he really yells (talk about your heart stopping) I had to reassure him no one was there. It always seems to be between 2:00 and 3:00 in the morning. He thinks the neighbors are either working outside digging or sawing or someone is throwing rocks at the house in addition to seeing my deceased mother or hearing other deceased relatives having conversations. I was wondering if there are any meds that might help get rid of delusions instead of contributing to their incidence. Good Luck to you and all the rest of us dealing with this issue.