Mom (79, in assisted living) is talking to imaginary people more often. Sometimes she asks me to talk to them. I try to change the subject but she's hard to divert. Is it okay to ignore the imaginary people, or has it made things easier in your experience to just play along and speak to them?
Sometimes she's really clear, other times she's deep in a muddle. I'm still leaning toward thinking it's Lewy even though there's no tremor. The other residents in her AL who they say have alzheimers are always repeating themselves and can't remember if they ate lunch. Mom doesn't do that (yet). She remembers what she ate and with whom, including the people who she hallucinated were at the table. Delusions and hallucinations for 6 years, phew!
Then depending what it is figure out weather or not you want or should talk to people that aren't there. If it is lewy body, I see nothing wrong with going with the flow.
Best of luck to you on this very hard journey we are in
I’d ask about them, so that M can talk about them. What’s her name? Does she have gray hair? Oh, I thought it looked a bit red-ish! Where does she come from – has she got an accent? Etc etc. It can make M happy, and the conversation possibilities with M are endless. Just pretend the visitor is an interesting pet in human form. It’s easy to comment to the visitor, as long as you can avoid a pretend conversation....Thank you for coming, M really enjoys your company. You must tell her more about your childhood. ....
I remember my dear MIL while coming around from an anesthetic, seeing snakes on the hospital walls. I reassured her that they were right up near the ceiling, and wouldn't come down low enough to be a problem for us. It would have frightened her to be told that she was 'seeing things', she would have thought she was going mad.
I think I’d have more trouble pretending that I hear the hallucinations talking to me!
Personally, I just can't say I see something I cannot see. If someone has delusions or hallucinations I usually say something like, I believe you... I hear what you are saying.. I understand you can see *that thing*. If they ask directly if I can also see *that thing* I calmly say that I can't see it myself. It is hard if they get upset with my answer, or accuse me of thinking they are crazy. I try to be bland & say we all have different eyes.. then try to change the topic.. or if they persist, ask them if the *children or animals* are friendly. This can lead into memories to discuss about long ago children or long ago pets.
So yes, you should speak to your moms imaginary friends when she wants you to. And then you move on to something else.
It's really not worth upsetting her over something that is very real to her. Your life will be a little easier if you just go along with her.
My Moms Neurologist said if Moms hallucinations did not bother her, then don't worry about it. If they upset her, then there were meds to help.
Maybe someday when I'm in my dotage, my imaginary childhood playmates, the two lions and the twin girls with rhyming names, will be with me again. I hope so.
If your Mom doesn't have a UTI, then just experiment with seeing what happens if you do speak to your Mom's imaginary friends.