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anonymous750717 Asked May 2018

Mom does not believe she is in her own house. Anyone know about Capgras syndrome and how to deal with it?

Mom woke at 4 AM believing she was in some kind of rental house, crticizing that the wastebaskets had not been emptied by the last occupants, the bed had not been made, but somehow most of her possessions had been moved in from her house. She wanted to leave and go to her house, and got very argumentative when I tried to convince her this IS her house. Hospice nurse advised upping xanax dose and try to divert the conversation away from the house. Did givemore xanax, which usually puts her to sleep, but now after two doses of twice her usual, she has not slept a wink and is still angry that I won't take her home. Research tells me this is Capgras syndrome and that I should not try to correct her or argue with her, but she will talk of nothing else. Any thoughts?

Issybeau Jul 2018
My Mom, while in the hospital, told people that she and I were in prison in Canada for drugs. She would ask them to come and break us out. And she was serious!

The neuro psychiatrist gave her seroquel at night for hallucinations and sleep quality. It helped.

Ahmijoy May 2018
From what I read, your own research is right. Dealing with this sounds a lot like dealing with people who have dementia. My mother was convinced someone had moved her facility and she was now in Russia. By that time, she’d had so many delusions, I gave up on ever trying to convince her otherwise. Like with dementia, there doesn’t seem to be any cure. It sounds like she’s powering through the Xanax. It may be time to ask her doctor if she can be on something else.

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