Expert: Paula Damgaard - 9/2/2008

Question
Hello,
My mother is 83 yrs. old and suffers from dimentia. In the last six months she has become more and more disoriented and has started having more and more episodes of not recognizing my father whom she lives with. The doctors have told us that there is no way of knowing the progrssion of the disease. I think she is hearing voices because she says that a man keeps telling her things. Is this normal and what should we be doing to protect her and my dad? Should she be seeing a special doctor? Her insurance has her with a Family Practive Dr.
Thank you, I'm advance I feel so lost with this.

Patricia

Answer
Dear Patricia,

First thing you should do is find a geriatric physician who specializes in dementia.  If you need someone to help you find one, your best source of help is the Alzheimer's Association in your area.  They will know of doctors who help to diagnose and treat people with dementia.

Once you have her true diagnosis, they should help you to get her on the right medicines to help with her dementia and the behaviours associated with the disease.  Hallucinations can be part of a dementia illness and as long as they are not hurting anyone I would let her have them.  For example if she wants to tell you the sky is purple agree with her.  If she says she hears dogs barking ask her why she thinks they are barking.  Let her be at peace with them.  However if they are telling her to hit your dad, then you definitely need to get her on medicine to protect him.  You may ultimately have to remove her from the house to protect him.  

Her insurance, which I am pretty sure that she must be on Medicare, doesnot say she can only see her Family Practice MD.  She has the right to see whoever is best to treat her.  

Once you have all of this in place make use of the other options that the Alzheimer's Association has.  They will be your best support through this whole process.  And believe me it is a process!  

Please let me know how it goes.  Take care Paula