How does one handle the delusions/hallucinations by their elderly parent?

I also have found that with my father that these things can occur if he has a Urinary tract infection. It is important to see if this is happening. I am struggling with my mother. She will have these periods where she will think about an event that happened between her and my dad and she will harp on what he did wrong. How do you help someone cope with a spouse just starting in a nursing home?

Yes, I have heard of it. In fact it has a name -- Capgras delusion, or Capgras syndrome. With a name, you can now look it up and begin to understand what is going on. In addition to learning more about it, I think your first step should be contacting her doctor.

Hi, this is an update on what I did about my 94 y/o mother with hallucinations and delusions that she was getting married. Mom has a great internist so we problem solved: 1) Turns out she had a low-grade urinary tract infection for which she was given antibiotics - that can make seniors confused; 2) Turns out there are neighbors across the way that fit the description of what mom was recounting, less her involvement -so there was some basis, just not in fact. She recounted feeling very lonely and wanting a happier life (so she formed one in her head). Turns out the aide was ignoring her all day, so I got rid of the aide and found a nicer more engaging aide and tried to make her feel special; 3) Turns out she had bed bug bites (thank you new boxspring!) so we got rid of them, her bites and her rash - that would make me nuts!; 4) Her thyroid levels were off so we adjusted her med 4) We put her on a low dose of Risperidone 0.25mg (an anti-psychotic approved for seniors with hallucinations and aggitation) that seems to have helped; 5) I had noticed that when the manufacturer of her Lexapro generic was changed it did not seem to have the same positive effect, so I went back to the Lexapro dispensed by CVS and her mood improved - I learned sometimes not all generic drugs are alike or as effective fr certain individuals. And, there is the fact that at such an advanced age the brain short circuits. So I have been learning to go along when she is agitated and in calmer moments gently guide her towards reality with support, love and DISTRACTION! If she is engaged in other things, her mind doesn't go there. It is sad, though, all her friends and siblings have pre-deceased her, so she does get lonely. We spend a great deal of time cooing and occupying babies and small children - we don't spend enough time doing the same for the vulnerable elderly, who in some ways go back to being just as needy. Hope this helps and gives some ideas!

Getting a proper diagnosis helps. Don't just let a regular GP doctor throw medication at the symptoms. I recently found out my dad has Charles Bonnet syndrome. It's related to brain damage from stokes and compromised vision. He will hallucinate as long as he can see a little. The hallucinations will stop if he goes completely blind, but that's not likely. Also, his condition could easily cause him to suffer dementia before this condition resolves. Sometimes medications can also cause hallucinations, so read the rare side effects. Doctors sometime discount them because they are rare. Something as simple as acid reflux medication and blood pressure meds cause hallucinations in rare cases, so I imagine a mixture would increase the likely hood from rare to less rare. My point is that aging is natural. Don't kill yourself with worry. You can't solve this in the long run. Just methodically research the condition and work with a geriatric psychiatrist, or geriatric neurologist. Worry more about reassuring your parent they are safe. Ultimately, prayer helps too.

My Mother Has lived with me and my husband for 12 years . I have been her only care giver. She woke up one day two weeks ago saying she was in a new house asking when we moved. I told her we had not moved. She has gone from not only thinking she has moved and is now living with someone who looks like me but isnt. She thinks my sister has moved her in with a person who looks like me . she cries and fights everyday saying she wants to move back with Shelbi (which is who i am) . My brother and sister have both came over and told her i was shelbi and she had lived with me and my husband for 12 yrs. she knows even my husband but doesn't think i am her real daughter. Have you ever heard of this before? i need some help quick please

My mother is continually looking up on the wall or ceiling to see things. She won't focus on me or what's happening around her. I talk to her, sing to her and tell her oh don't pay attention to that man in a cage; however, she just can't seem to focus on what is in front of her. I did tell her the other night that I made that man go away and that I would protect her. It finally worked after reassuring her for about 15 minutes.

The delusions are called "confabulations" and are pretty common in dementia patients. Recently, Mum was crying and anxious because she thought my ex wouldn't let me come visit her at the nursing home. I asked her how she knew this, and she said she heard "them" talking in the hall. "Who, Mum?" "I don't know, I just heard them talking in the hall and they said 'His wife* won't let him visit his mother.'"

Of course that's totally false, but I learned that you don't argue with dementia sufferers, you have to support or at least not dismantle their reality. So I just told Mum not to worry, that I was here now and would see her just about every day. She felt a lot better. Maybe try this sort of thing and then redirect the conversation to a happier topic.

*Mum has no recollection that I'm divorced. It's a pain having to occasionally talk about my ex with her.

Make sure your father always has a bag of dog treats handy. When he feels the dogs are missing he can call then "Bella, come, cookie" or some such thing and they'll come arunning. My dogs do and they can hear a cheese wrapper from 500 yards away but then they're piggies :)

Oh, my! This all sounds so familiar! My mother has Lewy Body dementia, is in a nursing home now. (She thinks stuffed animals are real and tries to feed them. I wish I could bring some big beautiful stuffed cats and dogs there for her to hold, and pet, and talk to but such an item would disappear as so many other things I brought her have. :-( They 'run away - more like someone walks off with them!) Mom had a lot of interesting hallucinations when she was still home. She didn't know she was living in her house of 65 years, we had to put up signs and tell her over and over. She had 'visitors' constantly, and insisted my brother was working in 'an office he goes into through the fireplace'. She was on an anti-depressant and none of her hallucinations were very frightening, thank the lord! I'd talk to the parents doctor and make sure he understands the situation.

My Mom used to insist that there were bugs crawling all over. At first we tried convincing her that there were none, but that would just make her more agitated. Then her doctor advised us to go along with the hallucination. Agree with her and try to "fix" the problem. And that worked. She stayed calm. I would go and grab a bottle of windex, pretend to spray the bugs away, and she immediately felt better.

Maybe if you agree with your Dad that the dogs are away. Do you think your neighbors would agree to check in on him? They could pop over and pretend that they've brought the dogs back after walking them or something. Just anything that will go along with his delusion to help calm him.

Much love to you and your Dad.