My mom is 88. In the last ten years she's lived in 4 different places and claims that someone knocks on her window at night. Whats wrong?

Maybe Dementia......Does she exhibit any other signs of dementia or just this knocking? Google "knocking on the window at night" like I just did and A LOT of things will come up. A lot. Mostly paranormal in nature but still a bunch of people apparently experiencing the very same thing.

Thanks everyone. I don't know. It's definitely a paranoia problem. She doesn't even see how unlikely it is that someone would be knocking on her windows, every place she's lived, for the past ten plus years... It's just not happening. She definitely doesn't have a UTI. Her health is overall perfect. I'm going to call her doctor and tell them what's going on and see what they have to say about it. Thank you everyone

Is she awake when this happens, or has she just dozed off and is woken by it? If it's the latter, there's something it could be but it has an awful name ("exploding head syndrome" -- I know it's terrible but that's what it's called.) My grandpa got it and would hear someone knocking on the house as he was falling asleep. I get it too, but mine is more of a scratching sound. It isn't as scary as it is startling. They don't know for sure what causes it, if it's neurological or something inside the ear itself. Oh and it can happen just before waking also. But anyhow I'd mention it to the doctor, just so they have it in her records.

Most likely she is having a medical issue like UTI or other. Take her to the doctor to find out. Also can you temporarily have her sleep in an interior or upper level room where you and she knows no one could possibly have access? Doctor visit first, though.

Sabrinasghost, sometimes an Urinary Tract Infection in someone your Mom's age can cause her to believe things that are not there.

When my Dad had Urinary Tract Infection, he was seeing ants crawling up the walls and in his food. Once the antibiotics started to kick in, less and less ants were being seen until they were all gone.

Just a thought.

Is it possible to place a tape recorder in her room and play it back for her so she can hear that there is no one knocking? Maybe that is a dumb suggestion. Not sure. Just trying to help. I really don’t know how hallucinations work in the elderly. I have not had experience with the elderly experiencing hallucinations.

Have experience with a brother experiencing hallucinations due to drug usage but that’s a whole different animal.

Hello, I haven’t personally dealt with this but when doing some google searching for dementia and alzheimer’s effects they mentioned that they can sometimes have hallucinations or vividly believe that somethings is there/happening when in reality nothing has.
Maybe ask her if there is something you’d like her to do about that? Like get a night light near the window or maybe play some music softly for her in her room at night that won’t sound like someone is knocking. If she likes animals is there maybe a way you could get an animal to sleep in her room with her the added sense of security might help? My grandpa has his dog sleep with him at all time and if she’s not with him he can’t sleep well at all. Hope this helps!