Mom is 88 and in a nursing home, she has very little eye sight left due to macular degeneration. She has show confusion and hallucinations in the past and it was a UTI. However, the last few times, her urine was clear. She has the same hallucinations over and over again, they are very vivid to her. Some are disturbing, like my dad (who has been gone almost 10 years) and I left her at a graveyard. Most are the same ones with a few twists. There are signs all over her room, farmers in overalls come and watch tv with her, kids are running around playing, they have a big sale all over her unit and it's busy and fun. Yesterday she called and asked me to bring her towels and sheets to her apartment, she didn't know why I thought should would want plain white. Then told me the same story about the farmers and the sale. She said they left her lots of cleaning supplies and I could take them home.
First time it happened was in November, then not again til around New Years. Now it's happening about every 10-14 days. The nursing home and providers don't really have any answers, except dementia. My sister died very unexpectedly the day after Christmas and of course, it was hard on mom and all of us. She seems to be getting worse, mentally, since then.
I don't argue with her about what she sees, just agree, because I don't know what else to do. Unless it's something that could cause harm to her. I am frustrated for her, the nursing home staff is great. They don't have much turnover, so she has the same CNAs most of the time.
Any tips on what to do? I want to ask her doctor what he thinks, there is an NP that goes to the home frequently. She is amazing and mom likes her. I feel helpless.
She just may be 'slipping'. Her age could be catching up with her and affecting her mind. Someone doesn't have to be diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's to have mental impairment. Talking to the NP sounds like a good idea. Maybe she can prescribe an anti-anxiety medication to help your mom feel less threatened by the hallucinations.