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I am a caregiver for my dad, who I believe has dementia or Alzheimer's. He has hallucinations and sees things that aren't there.


I don't know where to start to find out if this is the case. I have read different things that could trigger this — dehydration, medications, infections — but my dad says if nothing hurts it's ok, so I have to fight with trying to get him care.


Where do I begin? The Office of Aging doesn't seem to have resources or suggestions that I can find. I just want advice, I don't want 100 calls from people who just want to make money off his condition. I just want to read what my options are. Any advice?

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Take Dad to a Neurologist pronto.

Go to Alzheimers.org for information.
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Take him to see a doctor,they can asses his problems better then this site can.
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Get a medical evaluation.
Contact his MD.
Document ALL incidents that support your findings / observations (what, when (date and time) and explanation of what happen(ed)(s).

Gena / Touch Matters
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Consult with his doctor to get him evaluated to start there, then a social worker for his entire assessment prior to proper help
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From my personal experience, it appeared my dad had dementia, his PCP said so too; after doing basic testing; and started him on dementia medications. Worst mistake ever, things went worse. Dad is a diabetic, he also has blood pressure and cholesterol. He was cursing and having hallucinations. His PCP diagnosed him with fixed delusions. But after getting dad properly diagnosed by a Neurologist. It was found that he didn't have dementia or Alzheimers, even though his MRI showed shrinkage in his temporal lobe and hippocampus. His physiatrist diagnosed him with complex depression and started him on depression meds. Earlier dad had extreme hallucinations and aggression; the hospital started him on medication for that. He was also giving anxiety medications as needed. After his MRI, the neurologist wanted to start him on Alzheimer medications. I refused; I wanted a proper diagnose not “it looks like he has Alzheimer”. After getting his insurance to cover him for PET amyloid scan, it was determined his brain issues was caused by prior stroke, his depression, diabetes blood pressure and cholesterol. Basically, keeping all of these under control should prevent further deterioration, but unfortunately the shrinkage in his brain is permanent. So, get a full checkup with the Neurologist and don't accept "it looks like" without getting confirmation that "it is".
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You may be able get a home visit by Medicare or a telehealth visit . He may have a uti causing the confusion. Video him when hes seeing things . Maybe if you show him during lucid moments why you're worried about him. At the least perhaps call his pcp for advise
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Find a dementia support group, perhaps by searching online. HOPE (https://hopedementiasupport.org/) is a great resource tn my area. It's educational and stress-relieving to share your experiences with others in similar circumstances. Medical diagnosis and advice only goes so far - you need to get more than that, and a support group can fulfil the bill.
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Patathome01 May 30, 2025
Once his doctor diagnoses his condition, then he is referred to appropriate services. Perhaps for discounted services with his county.
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You can also get his pcp to refer him to home health care. I have that for my MIL and we never take her anywhere. Anything she needs outside of hospitalization, they come and do at home. There is never a fight about going to a dr. I take urine from the porta toilet “hat” in seat and put into a clean jar for lab to pick up for testing as needed. They can do blood draws and other testing at home. Maybe he will be open to pt to increase strength to retain independence in walking longer. It does take a lot of time to be a caregiver. It is full time. Everything they do is in s….l….o….w….time. It takes my MIL with me right beside her about 5 min. to walk with walker about 15’. You will want to find and use many assistive devices. These are often found cheap at thrift stores. Medicare will pay for a wheel chair that fits perfectly when needed. Your pcp will request that. If you decide to be the care giver, you become HIS person 100% as he will learn he can trust you and feel safe with you. This is big. It took me almost 3 months with an aid from an agency to stay with my MIL before she began to feel safe with the aid so I could leave for a few hours 3 times a week. I do this to exercise and write. Because I am home with her so much, I have been able to explore hobbies put off in the past due to work away from home. I am growing plants on garden which my MIL enjoys as well (watching mostly), doing needle work, baking, and refinishing furniture. You have to learn to enjoy a slower life style and taking care of yourself and building core strength is mandatory. I use Silver Sneakers that my insurance pays for to connect with videos of ex. classes I can do at home any time I want. I love that I can fit my health needs into my own schedule rather than having to work around a gyms schedule, though I continue to go to gym for one class and to swim one day. My husband is in this with me and he is wonderful. He will help with all household chores, grocery shopping and errands. So you must either take the big step to be the caregiver or find a way for someone else to do it because your loved one will not be independent for long if he is at all right now. Best to you.
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Your dad should be taken to see a Neurologist and the doctor will send him for a brain scan.
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Parkinson's also causes hallucinations.
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Start to be aware of what your father can do and not do, regarding his daily activities. If he can still dress himself, bathe himself, make his meals, go to the toilet by himself, and he doesn't wander and get lost, it may not be an emergency. Alzheimers, or dementia, tends to be a gradual decine. It doesn't get better. First of all, make sure all of his paperwork is in order. This needs to be done while he is still able to sign legal papers. He needs a will, a living will with his advance medical directives, and he needs to set up powers of attorney (POA) for medical (health care proxy) and financial matters (durable POA). You may need an attorney for this. Your State's Department of Aging may be able to give you references to online forms. If you are his designated caregiver, you also need to be on file with Medicare//Social Security to be able to direct his care on his behalf. This can be done with a phone call (have him sit next to you and be on speaker phone). They will ask him to agree to certain things. Financial institutions (bank, credit cards, investments) have their own POA forms. Speak with his primary care physician about his mental state. His physician may be able to order the testz, if that is indicated, and may also be able to direct you to resources. If it turns out that your father does have dementia, you'll have to be realistic about how much caregiving you can provide. You need to do research to learn how to care for someone with dementia. If you can't do it all, you may have to hire in-home caregivers to help, and also people to help with housekeeping, shopping, preparing meals and maintenance tasks. There may be senior day-care facilities available in your area. Or you can look into memory care facilities with skilled staff that know how to care for people through the stages of dementia. That might not be needed for a while, but you can do preliminary research on what is available and how much it would cost. If you decide to move him to a facility, find one near you, so that you can visit often and oversee his care. Much depends on his finances. All the best to you and your father.
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Has he taken the cognitive test?
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thank you all so much for the advice. I appreciate and will take each one under advisement.
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...I have to fight with trying to get him care. The next time he is having an hallucination you call 911 and tell them "He isn't himself and I don't know why -- he's refusing care." DO NOT mention anything about ALZ or dementia since this is not considered a medical emergency and they may not take him. Dementia is not diagnosed in the ER and they can't "treat" it in the Er. They can test him for other conditions that may cause hallucinations and treat those, which will be good. There is no treatment or cure for dementia. At the ER you tell the discharge planner that he is an "unsafe discharge" because he refuses care and you are not his caregiver nor want to be. Then ask to talk to a hospital social worker about transitioning him directly into a facility from the hospital. If you are not his PoA then the courts will eventually assign him a legal guardian and you are done worrying about his care solution. You don't say if you live with him, or he lives with you, or if you're even local to him. If you live together, do not accept any offer from the hospital to "help" if you take him home: this is a lie they tell to get him discharged. It's not true, they won't help in any way. You need to engage social services for his county.
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KPWCSC May 30, 2025
@Gleaton777

I am sorry but I feel you are being quite harsh. I haven't seen any comment indicating she does not want to be his caregiver. You are making judgemental comments without knowing the whole story. If he goes to a facility without having a true diagnosis, that is only asking for more problems because facilities do not make diagnoses and without her advocating for outside specialists and testing, he will never be diagnosed properly.

I don't know any more than you do about their situation, but when OP said:
"but my dad says if nothing hurts it's ok, so I have to fight with trying to get him care." That may only mean he is like a lot of men who refuse to go to a doctor.

As she has already read herself, his issues can simply be an infection or dehydration which when treated properly can resolve his issues. Yes, she realizes it may be more than that and that seems to be why she is searching for insights here and many have given great insights for her to consider.

If we went to the ER every time my husband has a hallucination, we would live there. A lot of hallucinations are very benign and in the beginning if told nothing is there, they will take a second look and agree. As issues progress, many times, all that is needed is going along with them and not arguing. I didn't see any comment that OP made indicating he is troubled by them. Early on in my husband's journey, I was told if they aren't a problem for him it was not something to be overly concerned with... but yes, OP should have it checked out as others have advised especially since it is new to OP and the father.

Please forgive me, but I get riled when so many here jump to conclusions and suggest sending LO to facility when the details are very limited. I support anyone's decision to use a facility whenever they personally feel their LO needs more care than they can provide at home. So yes, sometimes as caregivers, we need to be nudged... not shoved in that direction.
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Get him to his PCP (MD, PA, or NP) for a thorough exam. They can recommend a neurologist specializing in cognitive disorders if they deem it necessary. Ask for one associated w/an academic medical center.
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SweetSioux May 29, 2025
or DO (osteopathic physician)
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Look up Lewy's dementia. Hallucinations that are very real are more a harbinger of Lewy's than Alzheimer's.
Time to write down all symptoms.
Your first order of business is to get dad to his doctor for an exam and with your list of symptoms. Once he has a diagnosis it is time for him to seek safe care. If he won't do that you will need a visit (not phone call) with APS to see to it that the state takes care and guardianship if Dad won't allow you to get him safely placed.

You are clear in what you don't want as far as phone calls and etc., but you seem not to know what Dad now NEEDS.

Dementia isn't "triggered". If your father is showing signs (and the internet is your friend here; it is flooded with symptoms) of dementia, then dehydration isn't an issue. Dementia is. And you have to have a diagnosis.
I would start out the week with a call to his MD telling him what you have told us.
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