Redirection on Delusions

CindyBum

Hello my heroic, supportive, and likely exhausted friends.

DWs waving at the people on tv has gone from sad/but kinda cute, to just sad. She now thinks they are waving to her and sometimes coming out of the tv into our house. I've found her hiding in the pantry from them yesterday. She also really thinks there are people in our house and tiptoes around and tells me to be quiet so they don't bother us. She's typically kind of scared of these "people". She's not hyper scared or angry, more like weirded out by "them".

I find my instant reaction is to tell her no one is in the house, because I want to sooth her fears. But of course, that doesn't work, but redirection does when I finally get around to it. I know some of you have faced this…I could sure use any redirection tips you have for this type of thing; good lines to say, little fibs you've found that help, etc.

Hang in there, all. I'm trying my darndest to start every day with some gratitude, despite the harsh reality of the dementia journey. So today, it is sunny and beautiful here, for which I am incredibly grateful, but not nearly as grateful as I am for all of you on this forum.

xoxo

Jean loves wildlife

My MIL saw similar things - little people running around outside, all over her car out in the carport etc. I'm not sure redirection ever worked, though when she wanted to "go home" when she was sundowning and was already home it worked to take her out, get in the car, drive around the block and come home, announcing "now we're home".

M1

Cindy is your wife on an antipsychotic? It might be time to consider it, as this is likely unpleasant for her too.

CindyBum

I'm sure it's awful for her, M1.

I think you're right that it's time to see if we can find her the right med as the best intervention for her now.

Biggles

I love your positive approach to each day. I do the same with as many lovely routines as I can muster generally starting with breakfast at whatever time I have been woken up! Often from 4.30 on wards. We sit outside there are always lovely sounds of birds waking, our little dog is full of fun at that hour and there seems to be peace all around. My DM also finds people in the house, wants to know why they left straight after dinner, why is someone in the bathroom etc. I have learnt to stay calm sometimes I say no one was here but lately I’ve been saying I told them to go this is our house and you are safe here. I try to be as gentle as I can and hold on to the love we have had for 53 years. It doesn’t stop my tears.