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My mom was diagnosed last December with dementia. She is doing fairly well and is still able to take care of her own grooming, does housework and is very social. One thing that is very bewildering to me is that she says there are two of me, my husband and my dad! So there are two Bbtwinks and they both have husbands with the same name! There are two of my dad and "the other one" is sometimes there in the house instead of my dad (her husband). When talking about my dad, she might say "they stayed up really late last night."


My grandmother also had dementia. She never had this behavior. And after almost 20 years working in a Skilled Nursing Facility, I never saw this in a dementia resident. Has anyone else observed this? And how do you handle it?

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Look up Capgras delusions. It is a condition most often associated with schizophrenia but is seen in people with dementia as well. It is fascinating in a clinical sense but I can imagine it's quite terrifying to see it in a loved one. Responding to your mothers delusion could largely depend on how she is responding to your doubles. Is she frighten or feeling threatened or is she somewhat accepting? I have read here of cases where the loved one is accepting and only slightly annoyed by the presence of the doubles. Regardless, I think your mothers doctor should be immediately informed of this new development.
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This is not a typical symptom of dementia, but it isn't extremely rare, either. I know that many people with Lewy Body Dementia experience Capgras. Perhaps it occurs in other kinds of dementia as well.

I hope knowing that it have a name and is not unique to your mom will help you discuss it with her doctor, and to cope with it.
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My Mother had the same symptoms. She went so far as to claim that we moved all of her things into another apartment that was identical to the one she lived in. It was very difficult because she was afraid of the "imposters". Once she was admitted to a dementia care facility they started her on exelon and it helped with the symptoms a bit. She didn't talk about the imposters and seemed to know who we were. She recently passed away and I miss her very much. Best to you.
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Thank you Rainmom, jeannegibbs and WearyinPit. I really appreciate your responses and information. My mom does not refer to the second people as imposters but the implication is there. Thank goodness she is not afraid of the "others" and, in fact, seems to look at them as additional friends. At least, this is true so far. I am glad to know this has a name. Thinking that it was just confusion or that she was forgetting us was harder to bear somehow. Anyway, thanks so much for your input, thoughts and compassion.
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I am wondering if double vision is involved... with double vision you see 2 of everything. I get this problem at night if I had been on the computer or TV for too long, one eye gets "lazy".
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freqflyer,
Thanks for the suggestion but mom doesn't see two people at once. She thinks that there are two people that look exactly alike. One is her daughter, me, and the other looks just like me but isn't me. Hope that makes sense!

Rainmom, I took your advice and mom saw her doctor today. The doctor is referring mom for an evaluation.

Thanks, again, to everyone for giving me their insight and sharing their knowledge!
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