My mother has been married for 56 years to her husband. He died in August this year and as of the last 2 weeks she has been seeing and insisting that ther are people in her house. There is really no one there, I don't know what to do? Please help me.
3 Answers
Helpful Newest
First Oldest
First
Try not to argue with your mom about these people she's seeing. To her they're very real. Try not to insist that there's no one there. Comfort her. Make her feel safe. Reassure her. Don't agree with her but validate her concerns. "Mom, I don't see anyone. What did they look like?" Or "All the doors and windows are locked, Mom. I've checked and re-checked."
You know she's hallucinating but she doesn't realize it and that can be very scary for someone.
And as the others said, get her to the Dr.
Not only are the hallucinations potentially scary to the person, but they could cause them to do something that could put them at risk. We have a family friend who was having hallucinations. The family took him to the doctor and it was thought it was due to him taking too much cold medicine, but that was not it. He continued to have them. He thought that there were several children inside his home creating a racket. They bothered him to the point that he walked down the street to get away from them. While walking, he fell and fractured his hip. He has not fared well since. He's unresponsive and will accept no nutrition. There was a trickle down affect.
I would address it immediately.
ADVERTISEMENT
Hallucinating is an early symptom in some kinds of dementia. I wouldn't jump to any conclusions about that, but it is worth knowing.
Hallucinating is not a general symptom of mourning or of old age. I suggest you get Mom to a doctor. Make notes of anything else unusual going on in her behavior.