Mom see people in the shower

PamGC

Mom is having hallucinations for a while. Doctor started her on Seroquel 25mg 1 pill night and now 1/2 pill in The morning. But not much help. Now mom has trouble every single day to go shower because she see people there looking at her naked, so she had put a swimming suit to shower or just use a wet hand towel. At first she asked to cover the side where she see the people. We did taped a plastic shower curtain but didn’t worked. It wasn’t thick enough to cover the view as mom said. Now she asks to paint the shower wall black to see if it can ‘block’ the view. I don’t know what to do in this situation. Of course I won’t paint it black. I tell her to ignore them, but she says they are just there looking at her and she can’t ignore them. She even has conversations. 

I don’t know if a change or increase in medication can help with this. Any suggestions on how to manage it are welcome. 

LauraDW

Hello PamGC,

My mom also sees imaginary people. Most of the time she isn't frightened, but when she does seem disturbed by her hallucinations, I handle it by going into the room where she sees "people" and I say out loud, "Ok,Mom's tired so  it's time for all of you to leave now."  Then I call Mom into the room and tell her that everyone has gone home. 

It sounds silly, but most of the time, it's enough to put her at ease. 

Could you try something like this? Maybe step into the shower before your mom gets in and make an 'announcement', telling the "shower people" that Mom needs her privacy while she bathes...?

There's no guarantee, but it's simple to do and who knows--it might work..?

harshedbuzz

Pam-

Could be she's seeing her reflection or yours in a mirror and not recognizing it as such. This is super common. You can buy "window cling" meant to temporarily "frost" windows at a big box hardware store. If shower wall is glass, maybe if you covered the outside with a length on dark fabric, she'd accept they aren't there.

TBH, I'd try chasing them as Laura suggested. Sometimes the easiest approach is the best one.

HB