My husband is still in the early stage of Alzheimer’s but recently has insisted we have seen things on TV that are just being posted. Brand new news he insists he has heard before. Is this a sign that the disease is progressing?
Confabulation is interesting and annoying. If you don't know the person well, you could easily believe what they are telling you. BUT when it's your loved one and you know the history and the truth, it's so weird to have them tell these tales. They're not trying to lie, their brains just can't keep the truth, dreams, memories, ideas, etc. from getting all mixed up into something that makes sense to them.
This one was funny the other day. My mom told my daughter that the rag she was putting away "had to be washed a lot of times to get this clean!". Umm, no. It went through the laundry one time like everything else. It was just so random. I just let it go while shaking my internal head.
There's no point in arguing with them or trying to convince them that they're wrong. It really doesn't matter but does just confirm that they're in some level of decline.
Lots of people come here to the forum asking questions about their loved one with ALZ/dementia having difficulties with television in general. Sometimes they think the characters on TV are speaking directly to THEM. Other times, the TV agitates them and they pound on it. There are many disturbing things associated with TV sets and AD/dementia, it seems, judging by the posts here on Aging Care.
The other thing with AD/dementia is that the person suffering from it does not stay on a steady course; one day they can be fine, the next day they can be delusional and even having hallucinations. Yesterday my mother called me several times to ask if I was coming over, thinking it was Sunday, when I had been over the day before, as usual. Today she will probably be fine. Last week, she called my cousin thinking it was her sister who's been dead for 13 years. She insisted she had just spoken with her and that she was coming by that day for a visit. By the next day, she had forgotten the entire episode had ever happened. I don't know what 'stage' of dementia my mother is in at the moment, I just say 'moderate' as a general term.
Confabulations, confusion, hallucinations, delusions are all symptoms of AD. They may come in the early stages or later in the disease. Although some experts say there are 7 stages of AD, the disease doesn't necessarily progress linearly so it's sometimes difficult to determine what stage a person may be in. The important thing here is to not argue with him about what he believes. Let him believe what he believes. The same goes for the other 3 symptoms I mentioned, unless there is a safety issue or they cause serious agitation with your husband. In that case, consult his dr.
This one was funny the other day. My mom told my daughter that the rag she was putting away "had to be washed a lot of times to get this clean!". Umm, no. It went through the laundry one time like everything else. It was just so random. I just let it go while shaking my internal head.
There's no point in arguing with them or trying to convince them that they're wrong. It really doesn't matter but does just confirm that they're in some level of decline.
https://www.alzinfo.org/understand-alzheimers/clinical-stages-of-alzheimers/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA2uH-BRCCARIsAEeef3koW7QdgF0iKuwsrBlTXsrESBzK2UCrXmAkDAkZ0JehikBmOSt92f0aAlY1EALw_wcB
Lots of people come here to the forum asking questions about their loved one with ALZ/dementia having difficulties with television in general. Sometimes they think the characters on TV are speaking directly to THEM. Other times, the TV agitates them and they pound on it. There are many disturbing things associated with TV sets and AD/dementia, it seems, judging by the posts here on Aging Care.
The other thing with AD/dementia is that the person suffering from it does not stay on a steady course; one day they can be fine, the next day they can be delusional and even having hallucinations. Yesterday my mother called me several times to ask if I was coming over, thinking it was Sunday, when I had been over the day before, as usual. Today she will probably be fine. Last week, she called my cousin thinking it was her sister who's been dead for 13 years. She insisted she had just spoken with her and that she was coming by that day for a visit. By the next day, she had forgotten the entire episode had ever happened. I don't know what 'stage' of dementia my mother is in at the moment, I just say 'moderate' as a general term.
Wishing you the best of luck.