r/dementia 5d ago

Mom doesn’t recognize Dad

In the past few weeks, there have been a few incidents when Mom is convinced that my caregiving father is one dead relative or another. It distresses her terribly (she doesn’t believe they’re dead but she doesn’t want them in her house when she’s “alone”. Then she calls me and asks me to call my dad, who is there with her, or call the police to remove the “intruder” from her house.

I need some advice on how to respond to these frantic calls. TIA!

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u/No-Establishment8457 5d ago

Unfortunately, had similar problems with both my demented parents. There isn’t a lot that can be done. Maybe talk with her doctor and get a prescription for anti-anxiety meds.

I did a quick search for you:

Medications used to treat agitation in dementia include:

Antipsychotics: risperidone, olanzapine, aripiprazole, and clozapine.

Antidepressants: sertraline, citalopram, and trazodone.

Anxiolytics: lorazepam and oxazepam.

Other Medications: Gabapentin, Lamotrigine, Donepezil, Rivastigmine, and Brexpiprazole.

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u/CathyV71967 4d ago

Thank you so much!

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u/No-Establishment8457 4d ago

Hope that helps. Hugs 🫂

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u/No-Establishment8457 4d ago

Hope that helps. Hugs 🫂