My mom has been increasingly hallucinating that there are people, or a person, hiding in our backyard or near our yard's wall! What can I do?

I have had to deal with my mother's hallucinations for a year and a half. We now believe it is Lewy Body Dementia. Her delusions seemed to come on fairly suddenly too. She is not on meds at this point but I am hoping we can try something once we meet with a neurologist that deals with dementia patients in two weeks. (Finding the right doctor has been a journey, and we live in a big city.) We have been to several doctors trying to figure this out. My mother is able to take care of herself, does all the Activities of Daily Living, even drives, but has these delusions that never go away. Sometimes they are easier to live with than other times, She has had mild UTI's along the way and we usually get her checked when she gets even more agitated than usual. So definitely follow up on that. The number one rule: join her in her reality. It truly is her reality. Trying to talk her out of it will just frustrate you both. Believe me, I did that too and learned the hard way. They just become more agitated. Reassure her in whatever way you can that works. It may be trial and error and require creativity on your part! Use a calm reassuring voice. You may have to follow her lead in what seems to calm her fears or concerns. Distraction works well too. For meds, apparently there are some but they work for some people and not for others. And for Lewy Body dementia - certain anti-psychotics can be dangerous. I think the ones mentioned by others here are safe but the doctor should know best and what is good for the elderly. My sympathies to you. It is tough to live in "crazy world" all the time. It can try your patience for sure. It sounds like you are taking good care of your mom!

You need to go into her world. Talk to her as if this Is Real because it is, to her. Someone in the backyard would be alarming. Reassure her you are going to take this serious in believing her. Maybe tell her you talked to them and its people just keep looking for their cat. It will take time and practice with different approaches.

Next Watch Teepa Snow videos on YouTube. She is an expert speaker working with dementia patients. Search for her videos on working with hallucinating patients. Watch all her videos they are the best help!

Check with her pharmacist to make sure this is not from new meds or med related.

Distract by seeing if she can help in the house with folding towels etc, dusting etc

Best of luck, now go watch Teepa!😊

Well it kinda like your young son thinks there is a monster under the bed. You know there isn't, but you check just to make him more comfortable. She lives alone? She is probably really lonely and her mind is working overtime. Can you find things that keep her busy (making quilts, etc) or more people to visit her? With my mother-in-law we advised her to talk to the person and see what they want. This is a normal stage and it does pass.

A man in our Alz support group would agree with his wife when she saw things and give them a benign explanation. She said No, THAT'S NOT OUR NEIGHBORS BY THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR. HE'D said Let me take another look, oh yeah, I remember, they're having company today, that's their company.
A woman's husband said he couldn't use the bathroom because of the people in it. His wife went in and politely but loudly told "them" they would have to leave now, Paul needed the bathroom, then accompanied them to the door with "have a nice day"and other cordialities, then shut the door behind them and said OK honey, it's all yours.
Have not had that problem with my spouse but if it arises I will try to be as ingenious as they were, take their advice and never argue and try to come up with great explanations for what he thinks he's seeing.

You might want to remove mirrors in the house. I've heard of people who pass a mirror and see 'a person', but their mind does not recognize the person as herself. For the outside 'intruders', you might just go along with it - yes, the telephone people said they were going to be in/out of the yard for the next few weeks to check equipment. You might also take her to the dr and ask for urine test. Very often an infection can cause exactly what you've described.

When you say she alerted you - does that mean you are in the home w/her or she is calling you at a different location. If you're there, try to change conversation or agree and give reason they 'intruders' are there. If you're not there, she may no longer be able to live alone.

My dad has spent the last 5 days in the hospital because he thought people were outside and they were going to kill him. After some tests, and a number of IV's he is back to normal and it is determined that he was dehydrated. The hospital won't release him to go home and we have arrangements made to move him to an assisted living. Everyone is hugely supportive that is helping with this 'project' and I have been told he will do just fine once he is there.

I love some of the creative examples people have offered of ways to converse with your mother within her own reality!

I hope you are finding some useful strategies here. We are all wishing you the best!

Medication check is in order. Many meds can manifest into hallucinogenic thoughts and ideology.

She may have a uterine infection. Can cause hallucinations. Take her to the doctor.

First of all if possible, take a deep breath. The hallucinations your mother is experiencing are real to her so your telling her they're not is not going to solve the problem. Validating her fears and then distracting her is most likely the best approach. However, since these hallucinations are agitating her and causing her mental discomfort, I would suggest a visit with a geriatric psychiatrist who can evaluate her and prescribe medications to address the hallucinations and help both of you.

My dad was just discharged from the hospital because of dehydration that caused him to think that people were outside to get him/kill him. He was very paranoid 5 days ago. He was not released to go home because they said his dehydration will probably happen again. After some IV"s and good food in the hospital he is actually cheery! He is at his first day of assisted living today. He thinks he is only going for a few days but he is mistaken. I have also been told by 2 different social workers not to let him go back home. He needs to setting into the facility. We have one of his caregiver's there for the next week for several hours a day to help him get acquainted.

lotsokittycats: You're very welcome.

Babs, I'm so glad you've got him settled!

I was thinking. You could get a motion detector light for the backyard. And if it never goes off, everything ok Riiiiight? :)