My mom has vascular dementia. She and my father still live in their home of 60+ years. Mom keeps saying that is "not her house". And she also says that she has several caregivers. (She does not) My dad is the one there but she tells us that is not daddy. When she asks "where is Harry" if he tells her "I am Harry" she gets very upset and says NO YOU ARE NOT. Her "caregivers" are all male but one and she keeps saying "she" when referring to her. Again, my dad is the only one there. But she says he is NOT there but the "caregiver" is. She rarely has any other hallucinations that we are aware of. She also tells my sister that she wishes "they" would just tell her who they are instead of lying and saying they are Harry. She has very lucid conversations and this is really the only main issue right now. I just do not know how we should handle it. Do we keep telling her that it is daddy or what?
If he asks if I've seen one of his brothers, I just say, "Not lately. "
So far that satisfies him. I still don't know how he could've mistaken me for his brother, when I wear dresses most of the time. Oh, well.
I would try a picture 1st before I did something that could freak her out.
No offense intended, just thinking how that broken brain might perceive this.
With dementia they really believe what they are saying and telling them it is not so can be confusing/frightening for them and make them think you are being dishonest.
When I realized that I could not convince my Mom her delusions were not real and I was just making her feel bad, it was easier for me to stop. Still, it's emotionally painful watching a LO slowly loose their grip on reality. So painful...