My mother saw people come into her apartment, too.  They were, she said,
from The Government.  They took away all her furniture and replaced it
with furniture that looked exactly like hers but wasn't, really.

The Dowager went through this, too.  Also, the telling and retelling of
the same stories several times during a single visit.

You really do need to get her doctor in on this, if you can.

The most important thing you can do, other than get medical advice, is
to see if her lawyer will draw up and she will agree to sign a) a
Durable Power of Attorney and b) a Durable Power of Attorney for Health
Care (or whatever they're called in the jurisdiction in which you live).
If you do not have these documents, you will have to go to court to have
her declared incompetent when the time comes.  I managed to get the
Dowager to agree by pointing out that if anything *should* happen,
bringing the courts into the matter would serve only to get her name
into the newspaper in a context she wouldn't necessarily like.

For what it's worth, and it isn't the same for everyone, it was three or
four years after she signed them before I had to exercise either of the
documents above.

Baird

Hi Lynn,

Welcome to the club nobody wants to join.

Seriously though, a good many people have reported that their loved one
began showing signs of the illness with seeing imaginary things.   The best
thing you can do is to get her to a doctor to get a full gerontological
workup to find out just how impaired she is.   The reason for that is that
if she does actually have alzheimers, there are medications that can slow
the illness, help control the delusions, and in some cases, treatment of
certain medical conditions (that look just like alzheimers, but aren't)....
can be actually reversed.   This is why it is important for the doctor to
get her tested for the various illnesses to determine which one she actually
has, as well as determine the actual level of her impairment.   Sometimes
people can seem just fine, but they really shouldn't be living alone
anymore.  It's important that you find out so you can protect her.

Another reason is because it is important that you get certain legal
documents in order before the illness advances too much further.

You need to go to the doctor with her.   Write down everything in the
meantime.  Keep a log of the times she imagined people coming in, or having
difficulty with things in the house.

My mother in law turned on a hot water faucet and forgot how to turn it off.
She also forgot that she had food cooking on the stove and burnt the handles
off quite a few pots in her house.   She forgot whether she had taken her
medication and would take a second pill or more.   She was making herself
sick with either none, or too much of her regular medications.   That was
only the tip of the iceberg, it was way worse than we realized.   But when
she spoke to her friends on the phone she seemed just fine.   A
gerontological workup proved that not only did she have memory impairment,
and that the other possible causes were ruled out, but that it was probable
that she had alzheimers.   At that point the doctor told us that we needed
to be sure she wasn't alone anymore.

The rest of the journey was at times tough and at times poignant, but that
is something you can find in the archives.   For now, I hope you do all you
can to get her to the doctor and to get tested.   Also you need to make sure
you have legal power of attorney and health care proxy and all that stuff in
place.

This early stage of the game is by far the very worst, because you don't
have say over how things are handled, and you see this problem developing,
and you don't know what to do about it.

Don't be afraid, you need to get a handle on the problem, and that will
begin with a visit to the doctor with her.   Feel free to come here to ask
questions.   We've all been through the illness here with our loved ones.

Hi Lynn,
I've just been here a short time but have learned so much.   My father is 83
and when he first began to show signs of dementia he would tell us that
people would appear in his bedroom or in the doorway and then just disappear
in a poof ...  I guess it's a common symptom.  Once he told me his shower
spoke to him.  Told him to "turn off the water".  He said he replied "It's
my water and if I want to leave it on I will" ... you gotta laugh sometimes.
He's still living alone and caring for himself although we spend 6 to 8
hours each day with him.  Prepare his meals and even eat with him at
breakfast and dinner.  I hope he can continue this regime for a while.  He's
been on aricept since this past July and it seems to have kept him in a
holding pattern without any noticeable progression.  At least we think
that's the case.  He had a head injury from a fall and his symptoms were
horrendous for about a month then subsided.  He doesn't even speak of the
strangers who appeared before.   I'm grateful for this lull in his
progression.

This is a good place to come.  I hope you'll continue to ask questions of
these good people.  They have certainly shared a wealth of knowledge and
experience with me.  Welcome to a place we all wish we didn't have to visit.
Best regards,
Barbara H

I want to thank you all so much for responding to my post.

Do you feel it is better to see Mom's regular doctor or would it be more
beneficial to see a doctor who specializes in geriatric care?  

We will see an attorney and set up an appointment as soon as possible.
Will keep you posted on any developments.

I would like to visit here often as I really need someone to talk to.
Thank you for being here for me!

Lynn

Lynn, there is a specific kind of dementia called Lewy Body, whose
first symptom is often very vivid visual hallucinations. It ultimately
ends up in the same place as Alzheimer's, but it has some distinctive
features. It always helps to know what the cause of dementia is, so
you can prepare for what may happen. Knowing what to expect can take
some of the shock out of behaviors as they may develop.

M.

First, may I ask you.....since I am on web tv I cannot include all the
previous posts unless I CCP them.  Is that what you would prefer me to
do?

Secondly, I wanted you to know papers are being drawn up by the Attorney
and will be ready to sign next week.

Now I will contact the doctor and go from there.

Thanks for giving me the "nudge" I needed to move forward.  I already
feel a tiny bit of weight off my shoulders even though I know a bigger
load is forthcoming!  One day at a time!

Lynn

Question Please  

Group: alt.support.alzheimers Date: Sat, Feb 16, 2008, 1:42am (PST+3)
From: luv-z@webtv.net
Hello everyone - thank you for taking the time to read this.
My mother is 91 lives alone and cares for herself. However, she has been
"seeing" people come in her apartment, mostly during the night but
recently in the daytime too.
She says they seem to come in thru the walls and disappear the same way.
She "sees" a man, woman and two little children.
At first I thought she was dreaming but now I am wondering if it is
dementia. She makes perfect sense all other times.
I should add, though, she is having trouble remembering words and
sometimes gets confused with the TV remote.
I spend a lot of time crying and wondering what to do.
I tried to tell her there are no "people" coming in her apartment and
she will agree but in the next sentence tells me something they did.
Anyone have any experience like this?
I told her we need to make a special appointment with her Doctor but she
doesn't want to go talk about this.
I would appreciate any advice you can give me.
Thank you so much for listening!
Lynn
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Lynn--
Is she taking medications, and when she tells you about the people
coming through the walls, does she appear fearful or calm?
Eddyjean