My dad is almost 94. Ever since my mom passed away almost 5 yrs ago he has been having more & more vivid dreams. This past week it has gotten much worse. He picked up the tv control (fell asleep in his chair) & threw it hard, just missing his tv. Then even though he opened his eyes, he said he was trying to throw the rock into the hole. He slowly came to & was in a daze, then realized what he had done. Just last night he was saying there was a man in front of him that wanted a ride to another town. Then a woman appeared in front of him but he couldn't make out who she was. I forgot at this point to ask my brother, who was w/him if his eyes were open or closed. But later he came to, like before & was dazed for a bit. He says he can't sleep good at night so he sleeps during the day a lot. He doesn't seem depressed but I know since he can't get around like he used to & get outside it brings him down. I know he misses mom so much. My brother or I are with him 4 to 5 hrs every day. More me than my brother. I'm terrified it could be Lewy Body Dementia. My dad would go into a severe panic if it turned out to be that. If he ends up in a nursing home he would go into severe depression.
Dementia sucks. But you and he will deal with it if that's what it is. There's lots of support here for you. Try not to worry about what it might be. Worry does nothing but rob pleasure from today. It doesn't change the future one bit.
The brain is a very powerful organ and we hardly understand it. Modern neurology is only scratching the surface of the brain, its health, why we sleep, brain disorders, and brain diseases.
As others have mentioned, it could be a UTI or side effect from medication, too. Hope you and his doctors can sort it out and cure this. I know it is a hard thing to live with for both patient and caregiver.
Benedryl caused dreams that were vivid for my DH, and he was hallucinating. The doctor told me that seniors, especially people in their 90's often cannot take Benedryl for that very reason.
BTW, my Dh, 96, was taking the Benedryl to stop his constant itching.
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