What is causing my elderly mother to see snakes in her room at the assisted living center where she lives?

thanks Gladimhere, for responding. I agree that it is guess work when dealing with those who are unable to explain for themselves what is happening in their minds and bodies. I find this aspect of the dementia/alzheimer's spectra of symptoms to be the most wrenching of all. We are always left to wonder if our loved one (s) are suffering in silence, unable to express anything clearly, unable to think clearly, and unable to escape.

Glenn, yes, floaters are usually in the eye, but if eye drops take care of it, the problem is not in the eye. We are all practitioners and most will try anything to relieve symptoms. And it is all guess work because those with dementia are unable to explain what is causing stress, pain or any sort of discomfort.

Gladimhere, I thought floaters were something generated within the eye, and not present on the surface. I would be quite happy if eye drops would work to remove them, because I have some (black floating spots) in my left eye and I would love to be free of them. Are you sure eye drops would work for floaters?

It would be an easy fix for those who are seeing snakes etc if these visions were a result of having spots in their range of focus and if all it would take to remove them is eyedrops.
I definitely will try the eye drops you suggested. If you have more information on this, I would appreciate it.
Anyway...
I noticed people answering this person's question, about the cause behind her loved one seeing snakes , seemed to include a lot of suggestions on how to provide emotional relief for the suffererer, but it needs to be remembered that people with dementia and alzheimer's do not remember what has been told them one minute after you have told them. It's a short-term fix at best.

It appears in the light of these kinds of afflictions we all must become diagnostic practictioners ourselves. At least if we want the best possible outcome. This means eliminating possible causes one by one.

It may be floaters, try eye drops like Systane. Something that is labeled as moisturizing.

stocky powder should be talcum powder.

Kevin, like Jessie said, have her checked for a UTI. Be careful with stocky power on a linoleum floor, I would think that may make it slippery especially if wearing slippers with fabric sole or socks.

Kevin, I am so sorry that your mother is experiencing hallucinations and paranoia. To me that is one of the saddest manifestations of dementia. Her doctor should certainly be told about this.

These symptoms only lasted a few months for my husband. I hope your mother moves beyond them soon, too. While she has them, there is no point in trying to convince her that she isn't seeing snakes. It might be more effective to assure her that you love her very much, would never wish to harm her, and then redirect her to something else. Sometimes it can be effective to go along with the delusion and "fix it" for the loved one. In this case you could sprinkle a snake-repellent powder (that looks a lot like talcum powder, but has a snake-repellent label) around the edges of the room. (Make sure you tell the staff what you are doing and why.) It is possible that nothing you can do will help, but it can never hurt to reassure her often that you love her very much.

If your mother has been diagnosed with dementia, there are several types of dementia, to include one form called Lewy Body dementia. If she has not been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's, i may possibly be from medications. It may be time to consult with a neurologist.

Has her eyes been checked by an eye doctor? As we age we tend to get "floaters" which are harmless but annoying. I have large floaters that sometime scare me thinking there was something running across the carpet or on the wall.

Well you can ask her where the snakes are, and if she can't do so then tell her that your snakes would know you and would come slithering from whereever they were in order to see you. Therefore must not be your snakes!

just kidding. Actually snakes are better than bedbugs, which one of my clients claims to crawl all over him every night. I went through all the usual things people do when confronted with a person's delusions until I could see for myself there was nothing I could say to talk them out of their delusion/hallucination. I pretty much say nothing in response when they tell me about it now other than, perhaps, "I'm sorry to hear that."

What is she taking the antibiotic for? Hallucinations of things like bugs and snakes can be a symptom of a urinary tract infection in elders. That made me wonder if the antibiotic was for that.

Unless medications are ruled out as the cause, it's probably just another symptom of some type of dementia. A man at the nursing facility where my Dad lived continually told the staff that there were mice in his room and that they ran out the door and into the hallway. My Dad often saw snakes when he was still at home, as well as other animals. The neurologist said that as long as these hallucinations didn't frighten him that it was okay.

Hallucinations can be caused by medication or they can also be a sign of changes in the brain from all kinds of dementia or even toxemia from failing kidneys. Call the MD and alert him to the change.