Talking to who knows

blacksparky

My DW spends a good part of her day talking to people who I have no idea who they are. This is all in her mind as we are the only ones present. Is this a normal act of Alzheimer’s? Is it considered delusional or hallucinations? Should I be concerned about it and call the neurologist? Is there medications that help? I’m at a loss now and need some advice.

cdgbdr

Waiting for responses. My DH thinks others are in the house a lot of the time and recounts to me things that have occurred that I know have not.

Arrowhead

This is very common. What you should do depends upon how she perceives them. If they don't agitate her then don't worry about it. If they make her uncomfortable or angry, I understand that there are drugs that can help, so talk to her neurologist.

harshedbuzz

This is very common behavior. For dad, the delusions (false beliefs around this that happened) and hallucinations (actually hearing and then seeing people not there) started in the middle stages.

We turned to medication because his delusions of me stealing and mom cheating genuinely upset him. His hallucinations were less of an issue; at worst he was annoyed by "the kids playing upstairs" which we dealt with by leaving the room for a beat and returning to report we told them to go to sleep or leave.

In the later stages, both his hallucinations and delusions were more benign to even pleasant. In his last month, he did have some visioning where he saw old friends and my late sister in the room with him. He was happy to see them.

HB

jfkoc

only be concerned if/when it bothers her

GothicGremlin

It seems to be quite common. My sister had delusions and hallucinations as well, including a persistent hallucination - The Lady. The Lady bedeviled her to no end, so we turned to medications for help. Even with medications, the hallucinations, including The Lady, never completely went away, but at least they weren't as terrifying to her.

So yeah, I agree with the others, if your DW isn't bothered by the delusions/hallucinations, let it be. If they're bothering her, then yes, talk to her doctor and see which medications may be appropriate.

tboard

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/72885/talking-to-who-knows

My DH is often talking to someone who isn't there. He has long conversations with his brother on the phone but when I check his phone it doesn't show any incoming or outgoing calls. He has imaginary conversations with a neighbor too. I am not too concerned. he is in a mid-stage to late stage of mixed dementia. His condition is fatal and there isn't a cure and treatment is limited.

smn4646

My DW sees her Mom and Dad in our house regularly now. Her Mom died 6 years ago and her Dad (95 years old) lives over an hour away and hasn't been in our house for several years. She also will ask me about other people who have just been here. Plus she ask's me, her husband, where her husband is at times. You just go with the flow as long as they are still happy or at least in good spirits. The doctors are planning to add a med to help with the hallucinations. Hopefully that will help, but we are on the road to later stages of ALZ now and I guess I just have to accept it and do the best I can. Try not to let it over whelm you. You where put in the caregiver role for a reason. I sometimes think it is because we are the ones who can handle it best even though we are lost at times. We do it because we can. In my case I do it because she has been the love of my life and I know if the situation was reversed she would do it for me! That certainly helps me when things get tough.

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l7pla1w2

"Plus she ask's me, her husband, where her husband is at times."

My DW and I could be sitting at the kitchen table, looking at each other, and she would say, "I haven't seen [my name] in a long time. I wonder where he is and what he's doing." I would calmly ask her, "Do you know who am I?" She would ask, sheepishly, "Are you [my name]?"

Dementia's effects can be so weird. Something like the above began happening often enough that I no longer reacted. It's so very sad.

midge333

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/241911#Comment_241911

Last month, my wife started playing "20 questions" to figure out who I was. It was devastating to me. I also found that she was writing my name on pieces of paper - I think in an effort to remember me. Dementia sucks!