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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Alzheimer's / August 2008Dad & halucinations
Greetings all - It's been a little over a year since I first posted and got some very much needed help. We've had a really good year considering how it started. Anyway, Dad has done well and I never would have believed he would still be in his home and somewhat self-sufficient. We still get his meals for him and spend 6 to 8 hours a day with him. Had home health care in once a week until they told us he really didn't need them so we are saving that for a time when he will. This morning when I arrived to get him some breakfast he told me he needed to talk to me and to sit down with him a minute. This is when I always get a knot in my stomach and a cloud of dread hovers near by. Anyway, he proceeds to tell me that he sat up in his chair all night and watched "people" float by him and drift out through his bedroom window. Now, I've always known that Dad has a penchant for this "supernatural" stuff .... not a strong belief but for as long as he's lived in his house (25 years or so) he's always thought there were "ghosts" or something of that nature. He's not mentioned this sort of thing for probably 5 or 6 years now. I guess my question is could this be a serious turn in his dimentia/AD and is it a fairly common thing to have these kinds of halucinations? He gets so upset if we try to tell him they are not real. Today I simply said there must be a physical reason for you to be seeing such things. I think we should tell your doctor. He actually agreed. Thanks Barbara H > . > > This morning when I arrived to get him some breakfast he told me he needed > to talk to me and to sit down with him a minute. This is when I always get > a knot in my stomach and a cloud of dread hovers near by. Ah! I know that cloud! Anyway, he > proceeds to tell me that he sat up in his chair all night and watched > "people" float by him and drift out through his bedroom window. Now, I've [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > question is could this be a serious turn in his dimentia/AD and is it a > fairly common thing to have these kinds of halucinations? Some people have hallucinations as part of their dementia. Others interpret more down to earth things (like shadows cast by passing cars) as supernatural phenomena because their reasoning and observation skills are impaired. His reality is ... his reality. You can't reason him out of it. My question is this: What was his reaction to these "ghosts"? If he was not frightened by them, I wouldn't worry about it too much. If he were frightened, then I would see if this was what our European friends call a "one-off" event that does not re-occur. If it does, and he is frightened, then I would discuss the situation with the doctor. A sleep aid or a mild anti-anxiety drug might help. If the hallucinations become more prevalent, then a stronger medication might also be in order. My 98-year-old great-grandmother would get herself out of bed in her daughter's home on a regular basis and with her walker go sit in the front room. When my great-aunt would go check on her (the front room was not heated at night, so she wanted her to go back to bed before she was chilled), Mimi would say she was talking to her husband, who had died the year before. We never were sure if she meant "talking" as in a prayer-like imaginary conversation or whether she thought he was actually present. Of course, considering they had been married 79 years -- who's to say he wasn't? <G> I'm glad your dad is continuing to be so self-sufficient and is able to still be in his own home. Songbird >> . >> [quoted text clipped - 42 lines] > > Songbird Thanks Songbird & August for your replys. He isn't frightened so I guess that's good. He says he just can't figure out why they are in his house. However, we've had two good mornings with no mention of "sightings". One thing I've been putting off is getting his guns out of his house so I decided I couldn't delay that given his latest delusions. My brother took him for a long ride in the country this morning while I cleaned out the various guns and put them in storage. He hasn't used any of them in probably 20 years but at one time he was an avid sportsman and hunter. Quail, pheasant and turkey mostly. If he ever realizes they are gone there will be holy heck to pay that's for sure. I feel like the child who has misbehaved and is certain punishment will follow. :-) Well I've got to find some one to do Dad's yard work now. He's had the same guy for 15 years and out of the blue three weeks ago he fired him. Didn't remember to tell me and I had to tell this nice man not to take it personally, Dad couldn't help himself. Wish I could wake up in a new world every day! Not really. Be careful what you wish for right? Barbara H > One thing I've been putting off is getting his guns out of his house so I > decided I couldn't delay that given his latest delusions. My brother took [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > there will be holy heck to pay that's for sure. I feel like the child who > has misbehaved and is certain punishment will follow. :-) Excellent that you got the guns out of the house. Are you positive that he does not have any handguns hidden somewhere? > Well I've got to find some one to do Dad's yard work now. He's had the > same guy for 15 years and out of the blue three weeks ago he fired him. > Didn't remember to tell me and I had to tell this nice man not to take it > personally, Dad couldn't help himself. Are you certain that your dad remembers firing him? I'd be tempted to tell him to resume cutting the grass but you are in a better position to judge. It will probably cost you triple to replace the previous person since is now hard to get someone willing to do quality yard work. Even if your dad does remember he might change his mind about firing him after he sees how much trouble it will be to replace the original person. good luck with this little drama. AW >> One thing I've been putting off is getting his guns out of his house so I >> decided I couldn't delay that given his latest delusions. My brother [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Excellent that you got the guns out of the house. Are you positive that he > does not have any handguns hidden somewhere? Shotguns and rifles mostly. He did have one handgun. It was in the only shoe box on the top shelf of his closet. I knew that's where he kept it so I left the empty box hoping he wouldn't think about the gun being gone. Boy! oh Boy! It's never easy! I'm still a bit on edge hoping the phone won't ring with him ranting mad and thinking he's been robbed. >> Well I've got to find some one to do Dad's yard work now. He's had the >> same guy for 15 years and out of the blue three weeks ago he fired him. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > sees how much trouble it will be to replace the original person. good > luck with this little drama. AW Oh yeah, he remembers that. He's made up the wildest stories about why he fired him! He can't remember from one time to the next to tell the same story but yes, he knows he fired him. This man is so nice and he really understands what is happening to dad. He's seen the slow progression over the recent years. I was tempted to try and get him over to mow while we had dad out running errands or such. However, this guy is a school teacher and since our schools just started he's limited on when he can mow. I tried to sway dad back to this guy but one thing about him now is that he's going to be right no matter the consequences. It's no trouble to him, me or my brother will be the ones to take care of it for him. He leaves everything to us of course. Yes it will cost him more I'm sure. We're nearing the end of the mowing season here so maybe by next year I can get the regular guy back and dad won't remember. I shouldn't be surprised, I had to find him a new dentist last year. Now he thinks he's still with the old one so I'm not sure how this will play out. I'll probably take him back to the old one when the time comes. I think he just wants control over something in his life. It's hard I know. However, I've put my foot down with him on the housekeeper. He told me several times he knows someone who wants to clean for him. I've told him I'm in charge of this and he's not to bring somebody new in just because he knows her or knows somebody that knows her ...... He is still fairly organized and compulsively neat at time and he keep his own laundry done, so far. Occasionally I will wash a few things for him and I shop and buy everything he needs. It's not so bad now, I know. I can't think about the future though. He's still self sufficient enough that we feel he is safe. I make sure he sees his doctors regularly and together my brother and I give him his meds every day. He doesn't take a lot so its not that hard for now. Got to rambling here but it does help sometimes just to let it all out. Thanks for your thoughts and help. Barbara H Barbara, this is a support group, and if you need just to tell what's happening in your dad's life, and your's and your brother's, to make you feel better, then that is the support we offer. We don't have any rules about what can be discussed and what can't. So, whatever helps, we're here to listen. Gwen  Signature*********************************************** The Son of God became man to enable men to become sons of God. (C S Lewis) >> One thing I've been putting off is getting his guns out of his house so I >> decided I couldn't delay that given his latest delusions. My brother [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Excellent that you got the guns out of the house. Are you positive that he > does not have any handguns hidden somewhere? Shotguns and rifles mostly. He did have one handgun. It was in the only shoe box on the top shelf of his closet. I knew that's where he kept it so I left the empty box hoping he wouldn't think about the gun being gone. Boy! oh Boy! It's never easy! I'm still a bit on edge hoping the phone won't ring with him ranting mad and thinking he's been robbed. >> Well I've got to find some one to do Dad's yard work now. He's had the >> same guy for 15 years and out of the blue three weeks ago he fired him. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > sees how much trouble it will be to replace the original person. good > luck with this little drama. AW Oh yeah, he remembers that. He's made up the wildest stories about why he fired him! He can't remember from one time to the next to tell the same story but yes, he knows he fired him. This man is so nice and he really understands what is happening to dad. He's seen the slow progression over the recent years. I was tempted to try and get him over to mow while we had dad out running errands or such. However, this guy is a school teacher and since our schools just started he's limited on when he can mow. I tried to sway dad back to this guy but one thing about him now is that he's going to be right no matter the consequences. It's no trouble to him, me or my brother will be the ones to take care of it for him. He leaves everything to us of course. Yes it will cost him more I'm sure. We're nearing the end of the mowing season here so maybe by next year I can get the regular guy back and dad won't remember. I shouldn't be surprised, I had to find him a new dentist last year. Now he thinks he's still with the old one so I'm not sure how this will play out. I'll probably take him back to the old one when the time comes. I think he just wants control over something in his life. It's hard I know. However, I've put my foot down with him on the housekeeper. He told me several times he knows someone who wants to clean for him. I've told him I'm in charge of this and he's not to bring somebody new in just because he knows her or knows somebody that knows her ...... He is still fairly organized and compulsively neat at time and he keep his own laundry done, so far. Occasionally I will wash a few things for him and I shop and buy everything he needs. It's not so bad now, I know. I can't think about the future though. He's still self sufficient enough that we feel he is safe. I make sure he sees his doctors regularly and together my brother and I give him his meds every day. He doesn't take a lot so its not that hard for now. Got to rambling here but it does help sometimes just to let it all out. Thanks for your thoughts and help. Barbara H > Barbara, this is a support group, and if you need just to tell what's > happening in your dad's life, and your's and your brother's, to make you [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > to listen. > Gwen Thank you - I appreciate that you are all here and that it's okay to unload. I'm just not use to doing that very much. Barbara H > Greetings all - It's been a little over a year since I first posted and > got some very much needed help. We've had a really good year considering [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > Thanks > Barbara H There is nothing to be gained by telling him they are not real. I think I'd wait and see if this is going to be a regular happening and also if seeing this stuff causes him anxiety or fear. I guess since he stayed up all night they must have caused some anxiety - except you never know if all night was the past ten minutes or actually all night. If you find that he is becoming afraid or not getting enough sleep then his Dr could give him medicine that might help with both problems. I am not a big fan of antipsychotics but from what I have heard and read, low doses of the antipsychotic seroquel are safe and effective for what is going on with your father. I think you made giant progress by getting him to agree to a Dr appointment. Now, whatever treatment is suggested came from his asking to see the Dr and not just you pushing something off onto him. You are fortunate he is still able to live alone. I truly hope things can continue that way. good luck to you both. AW |
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