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Booth1952 Asked March 2018

Why is MIL repeatedly saying strange things and talking to her mother who’s been dead over fifty years?

MIL has dementia (Alzheimer’s) and has recently started to tell people - “you kill babies, you kill your kids, you killed your mother.” She will call people “the devil.” She has never sworn before but now tells everyone “to go to hell.” And, she talks to her mother, who’s been dead over fifty years, saying the following - “can you believe she kills babies, ma. Those little innocent babies she kills.” What provokes a person with dementia to say such things? Is this just the progression of the disease? We are taking her to see the geriatric physician.

SueC1957 Mar 2018
A very sad fact is that their brains are broken. They can say or do anything without the "filters" that they used to have. She can't help what she's saying, even though it's very distressing to you. As FF above said, you can wait out this "phase" as it may change into other behavior later on. It's so sad to watch someone we love loose all connection with reality.

There are meds that may stabilize her accusatory moods. It's best NOT to fight her right now or try to correct her when she says things like this, as it only gets her more agitated. Don't forget--to her, the accusations are REAL.

Redirection is the best way. "Mom, did you see that Jane has a new dress on?" Sometimes this works and sometimes not. I've had to leave a visit with my mom (95 yo, stage 6 Alz.) when she won't "give it up". There's only so much that WE can take too before loosing our marbles.

Hang in there. I hope the doc can help her out. If you need to SCREAM, definitely do it here. A lot of us have been through the same thing and can sympathize and empathize with you.

freqflyer Mar 2018
Booth, your mother-in-law is saying strange things because that is part of Alzheimer's/Dementia for some people who have it. There is nothing you can do or say to make mother-in-law stop this type of talk, except to wait out this phase.

It is good that your mother-in-law will be seeing her physician. Maybe he/she could prescribe something that will calm Mom.

Scroll down to the bottom of this page to the blue section.... click on ALZHEIMER'S CARE.... pick out the articles you deem important to your mother-in-law. The article will give you tips on what to do.

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