My Mom keeps seeing visions of things in her room at night. What do I do?
She insists that someone is sending projected images through her bedroom window. I told her she is dreaming but she insists they are real. She even called the police!! Help!!
I hope they have figured out what was causing your mom's problem. If it wasn't a UTI, then I would discuss medication with her doctor and see if he has some suggestions. My cousin was seeing things too for awhile, but antidepressants seemed to stop most of it.
When she would make comments about things that were not there or bothering her, I would say immediately that I had already taken care of the matter. Regardless of what it was, I would say that I had already investigated the matter and spoken to the people in charge and it was now resolved. That normally satisfied her. I would repeat it later if she forgot what I had said. She hardly has any that bother her anymore.
Does your memory's allow her to recall that the same conversation about the projector occurred the day before? If not, you may have to just keep repeating the same story to appease her, until she stops having the hallucination.
Babalou is right -- a uti can cause hallucinations in older people. This should definitely be checked out medically.
Several types of dementia also include hallucinations. If this is a new stage of her dementia, there are several ways to approach it. The "that was a very vivid dream" approach sometimes works. Arguing about what they see almost never works. You could try to "stop" the vision. "Let's put this big bulletin board on the window sill and then close the curtain over it. That should stop the projection." You could make a mock phone call to the police and then reassure Mom that they are keeping an eye on neighboring buildings.
But first check to see if anything is going on physically that can be treated.
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When she would make comments about things that were not there or bothering her, I would say immediately that I had already taken care of the matter. Regardless of what it was, I would say that I had already investigated the matter and spoken to the people in charge and it was now resolved. That normally satisfied her. I would repeat it later if she forgot what I had said. She hardly has any that bother her anymore.
Does your memory's allow her to recall that the same conversation about the projector occurred the day before? If not, you may have to just keep repeating the same story to appease her, until she stops having the hallucination.
Following this to see what happens. Please let us know what you come up with.
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Several types of dementia also include hallucinations. If this is a new stage of her dementia, there are several ways to approach it. The "that was a very vivid dream" approach sometimes works. Arguing about what they see almost never works. You could try to "stop" the vision. "Let's put this big bulletin board on the window sill and then close the curtain over it. That should stop the projection." You could make a mock phone call to the police and then reassure Mom that they are keeping an eye on neighboring buildings.
But first check to see if anything is going on physically that can be treated.