Hallucinations

Sea Jay

Hi All.

My mother is in the midst of a drastic decline over the last 3-4 months from mild to moderate dementia (Alzheimer's).

She's had plans to 'track down' or visit her deceased parents a lot recently and I use my judgement in those moments as to whether the truth or therapeutic fibbing would be more comforting for her. This week when I explained truthfully that her parents were gone, she responded by recognizing and stating that she is having hallucinations then. I was surprised by that and so I'm posting to get a sense if that's uncommon or has happened with any of you and your loved one?

Thank you.

M1

Hi Sea jay. Is she saying she is actually seeing or hearing her parents? That would be a hallucination. Sounds to me like she is just forgetting that they have died-and this is fairly common. My partner does it daily and when she is upset wants to move home to Texas where she grew up. I think this kind of confusion does fluctuate, and your mother's ability to recognize her mistake when reminded is also pretty common. I liken it to a loose wire or light bulb that will sometimes connect and sometimes not. Some say that this is related to the fact that the oldest memories are the most ingrained and therefore the most enduring, such that many PWD end up with this kind of "time travel" as they progress.

Btw there is another thread on the spousal forum this morning on exactly the same topic.

Sea Jay

Thank you, M1, for your response.

She does say things like, my mother dropped me off here earlier or my mother is picking me up. And I'm seeing where there is overlap now between me and her mother.

I am used to her mentioning her living parents, but was caught off guard, specifically, by her pausing to identify what was happening to her, as that was a first.

Thanks again and best to you.

Emily 123

Hi Sea Jay,

Has she been checked for a UTI? It's just that you mention that this has been a fairly quick slide-might be worth checking.

Sea Jay

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/186767#Comment_186767

Hi Emily,

She had been checked for a UTI and was negative. Thank you for your time and the suggestion.

jfkoc

There were times when "misinformation " led to some lovely discussions. I began too think of them as tea parties..a tme to let a discussion just flow....sometimes past sometimes present. Fond memories for me to have.