Hi! I am hoping someone else might have some insight into what I am presently going through with my 89 year old mom. She had been living with my husband and me for 8 years (due to a fall where she broke both wrists) and while she had severe pain from osteoporosis, was a recovering breast cancer survivor (had it when she was 85) and was suffering from congestive heart failure, she was able to get around our house on her own and her mind was sharper than mine. Last spring she suffered a stroke. Since then she has progressively gone downhill. She can only walk a few steps now with a walker, but that's ok. The struggle I am having is with her mind. She is seeing people, claims my husband and I are covering our pictures with sheets and bringing voodoo people in to pray over her. She still knows us and our friends and remembers things, but she is very paranoid and cries a lot. Nights are extremely difficult for me. My husband works nights so that he can be home with her during the day, but I am on the night shift. But my mom is getting more and more afraid at night, she calls for me approximately every 45 minutes and she either cries or yells at me for the voodoo stuff. I am so confused. I am not sure what is happening to her or how/why it is happening so quickly. Is there anyone out there who is dealing with something like this? (She is on hospice care and the nurse and doctor have tried several different medications to calm her down -- sometimes they work, sometimes they make her more agitated. I just don't know what to do and would welcome any help.) Thanks.
Check your state's Web site under aging services and see what the contact information is. There should be some respite help under the Family Caregiver Program.
Has your doctor tried eliminating any medications? Have you had the pharmacist run a check on drug interactions and side effects? There could be something about her meds, especially since this is so sudden. Did she have a change in mediation around the time she started to decline?
Good luck, my friend. This is tough. You've already done so much. Please keep us posted on how you are doing.
Carol
I hope that you are able to find out what is wrong and how to fix it. I would suggest seeing a doctor who specializes in elder care.
Look up Capgras Syndrome. Does your mother's situation seem to fit that description?
I don't know why, but often dementia hallucinations/delusions seem to involve young children.
When the delusions/hallucinations are harmless, try to go along with them. A wife in my local support group dealt with her husband's requests that she set places at the table for the children by saying, "Oh, their parents will be here soon, and we don't want to spoil their own suppers."
When the delusions/hallucinations are disturbing your mom, try to reassure her about her safety. "I can handle this evil man, Mom. In fact, I am going to escort him out right now." or "Mom, I don't think he really is evil. He is just confused and came to the wrong place. Come on, Fellow, I'll walk you out to the street and call a cab for you." It will take some experimenting to see what helps calm Mom down.
Keep a log of her behavior to discuss with her doctors. Aricept lessened the hallucinations for my husband, but no drug works the same way for all patients.
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