Dealing with my mother’s delusions and anger

KLB23

Hi. I am new to this group and fairly new to caring for my mom who was recently diagnosed with dementia. A couple of months ago, while on a day trip with her husband and sister, she sort of snapped. She was riding in the backseat while her husband was driving and her sister was riding in front. My mother became withdrawn and started visualizing her husband and sister as the couple. During the 3 hour drive home, she became more out of touch with reality causing her to have a full blown anxiety attack which ended with her being admitted to the hospital. Now, 2 months later, she remains focused her hurt and angry feelings toward her sister. They used to see each other several times a week. And now my mom has become depressed and withdrawn. She has had no contact with her sister and becomes anxious at the mention of her. How can I encourage contact again and help foster a relationship with her sister again?

easy23

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/69701/dealing-with-my-mother-s-delusions-and-anger

My mother had a similar delusion involving my sister and father. My sister denied having an affair with my father, but my mother didn't believe her. She was put on risperidone (an antipsychotic) which lessened her anger and delusion, but it didn't go away. Maybe an antipsychotic would help your mother.

KLB23

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/214010#Comment_214010

Thank you for your input. We have a doctors appointment on Tuesday. I think they are going to do a med change.

harshedbuzz

Hi and welcome.

This is not an unusual delusion. Often the PWD won't recognize a family member as such and believe they are are cheating with a spouse. Sadly, it's often a daughter (son) or sister (brother) which adds to the burden of the primary caregiver as that person becomes a visual trigger that upsets the PWD and makes it all the more tragic. Meds and the passage of time generally helps the PWD get "unstuck".

HB