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We've had 3 wives in our caregiver support group that had to deal with capgras syndrome with their husbands or are still dealing with it.
It is very frightening when a spouse doesn't recognize the other spouse and can be quite dangerous, thus why homicide is a possibility when one doesn't believe that their spouse is their spouse, and they feel threatened by this "stranger" and so they kill them.
I know that is extreme, but you must take capgras very seriously.
The one wife whose husband is still alive, has had to sleep out in her car because he wouldn't let her stay in their house, or she's had to sleep in another bedroom but then had to leave first thing in the morning as she wasn't welcome. I know that she is exhausted from not knowing from one minute to the next who her husband is going to think she is.
And sadly because money is an issue for them she is hesitant to have to place him even though she knows that would be best.
It's very sad, and very scary for the spouse without dementia.
Please do your homework on capgras, and please be careful if you are the one that your loved one doesn't always recognize.
Helpful Answer (2)
Reply to funkygrandma59
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Yes we did with MIL and it was pure h-e-double toothpicks.

Hubby obtained guardianship and into memory care she went. So many, many variables -- from her housing situation, her finances, her delusions, her hallucinations, her agitation and beyond -- made it impossible for family to continue care, period! Outside care was the only option and that is what I believe should happen with anyone that has full on Capgras. It is the most logical way to keep the LO and those they interact with safe.
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Reply to MyNameIsTrouble
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We have, yes, often heard about this and spoken about it on Forum over the years I have been here.
Consider moving your cursor up to the AgingCare blue timeline at the top of the page. Swipe over to the right and by your Avatar picture you will see a magnifying glass. Press on that for the popup line and type in Capgras. You will see all the questions that were asked here and all the answers.

Sadly the truth is that there isn't anything you can do to cure this, and there isn't anything you can do to convince the elder he/she is wrong, and the best way through is just finding whatever "works" best for the individuals involved.

I sure wish you luck.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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