My mother is 93 next week

[pericat]

She has never believed in eating and drinking together at meals as she thinks this is bad for her. In fact she does not drink a lot at all - except for coffee and whiskey. She told me the other day she is getting hallucinations - she was convinced my husband was in her sitting room staring in her mirror and not talking when he was here with me and she would not even believe him when he got on the phone to her. She also saw a small boy beside her bed one night. Could the lack of liquid be causing this. She is also taking some medication (over the counter stuff) for her bowels - its a white chalky stuff that the chemist told me she should be drinking loads of water with - but when i said it to her I was told she knew better. Could all this be adding to her hallucinations ? She is due to be assessed next week followed by a day in the hospital in July - if we can convince her !!

[mazie]

Hi peri xx

What is she being assessed for?

[redman41]

Hello pericat, she has had a long and fulfilling life and I'm sure you must be very proud of her. Good luck to your Mum.......

[jno]

not exactly my field of expertise but I'd say any flaws in your diet that take 93 years to manifest themselves are probably not a big problem. I would have thought it more likely to do with old age generally. If her mind's wandering perhaps she's actually not eating or drinking what she thinks she is anyway, so it's worth checking out.

[woofgang]

simple test for dehydration is to pinch very gently the back of the hand...not dehydrated skin goes flat quickly, dehydrated skin stays tented and goes back slowly. If she has soup, gravy, fruit, custard etc, she may be getting enough water that way. There are loads of reasons for hallucinations.

[Clanad]

Hallucinating is a common side effect of dehydration, even in young and otherwise healthy individuals. The prescription sounds suspiciously akin to milk of magnesia, which is an old standby for constipation (common in the elderly) but requires constant intake of water. (Read about it here: http://www.wisegeek.c...-milk-of-magnesia.htm )

Best of luck! (my Mom lived to be 95, we experienced similar problems).

[rowanwitch]

Confusion that is fairly sudden onset inthe elderly is sometimes related to an infection but also constipation can cause it, sounds like extra fluids might help until she can be properly assessed,
can you be bit sneaky,,, does she like jelly as that is almost all water a couple of pots of that a day might get her fluids up without her noticing or some slices of melon, or thinnish soup

if the bowel stuff is for loose bowels she might have bunged herself up a bit,
Good luck she sounds like a grand character

[pericat]

its a geriatric assessment Mazie. I dont know if proud is the word red - have you read my posts about my mother before ?? Jno - thats exactly what my husband said - but its just to look for an answer to these hallucinations really. Woofgang - I will try - she will probably slap me

[pericat]

thanks clanad and rowan - I think we are in for a time of it. Grand character - thats one term I'd use - lol

[redman41]

No I haven't peri but I do understand the problems some of us encounter with Parents throughout our/their life...x

[kevo2k7]

Another very old whiskey drinker i hear of, my mother used to work in a nursing home and most of the old people 90+ were keen whiskey drinkers and all swore by it as their longetivity in life. I hope your mother is fighting fit again in no time and it is just that medication disagreeing with her and not old age finally taking its toll. xx

[China Doll]

Is she being assessed for any urological conditions? Only ask as I seem to recall my own nan having a few hallucinations when she was ill and they were part of a urine infection she had, apparently they can effect the elderly quite badly as I also get them occasionally and never had any kind of temperature or such thing that prompted hallucinations!

[mazie]

lol, I know what you mean peri, my Mum would try the patience of a Saint. I went to visit her on Monday and she put me on a massive guilt trip. "Why couldn't she come and live with me, she'd looked after me when I was little, now it's my turn to look after her" I tried to explain why she couldn't but to no avail. It took me Months and Months to get her a room in the new care home, which is Fab, it looks and is run like a 5 star hotel. Your Mum's hallucinations could just be her nodding off for short spells and dreaming, waking up and thinking it was real . Anyway good luck next week!

[pericat]

I said that to her - the thing is she knows that she is getting hallucinations - its strange. she is living with my brother and sister in law - who insisted she come live with them (she paid for a big extension for herself) against all advice and now all hell has broken loose and its a really difficult situation on top of her being a really difficult woman. Should be fun

[mazie]

If she's like my Mum she wont listen to reason anyway peri. It's her way or no way, in my Mothers case. Good luck and let me know how you get on next week. xx

[pericat]

Sounds familiar mazie - thanks will do

[society]

Peri, hope your mum is well soon. Best wishes to her.


"apparently they can effect the elderly quite badly as I also get them occasionally and never had any kind of temperature or such thing that prompted hallucinations! "

ChinaDoll - I always thought you were a young one, never imagined you to be an elder.

[Jemisa]

Yes society, I picked up on that too about 'China doll' but I suppose the name China doll confuses us, one automatically thinks a 'doll' is a young thing.
Thats why I keep to a name Keeps 'em guessing. Tee-hee

jem.

[China Doll]

Lol! I'm a horrifying 31 years of age.... I was just trying (badly!) to make the point that I have urine infections which are a pain but when my nan had one she was properly poorly and had hallucinations etc... I'll get me coat! ;0)

[Jemisa]

Blimey China Doll you're just a young thing. Awww! sorry to hear you have these infections, they're uncomfortable aren't they? Have you had a hormone test? they may be working overtime. Isn't there a herbal remady out there?
I hope they clear up soon.

jem.

[RATTER15]

Hi Pericat, my mother is also 93 and she has mild dementia. This was worse just before a fall a few months ago, when she fractured her right femur and shoulder. At that time she occasionally also had what might be termed hallucinations. This was most probably due to her dehydration (she refused to drink the amounts she needed), but also due to severe anaemia, which we didn't realise she had. She had three blood transfusions in hospital. Her mental state is now far better than before; she is also drinking plenty and has not had any hallucinations since returning home about two weeks ago. Luckily my Mum is a lovely lady and we are extremely close. She lives with Ratter15 and me and I am her main carer. You might get the doctor to check if she has anaemia as well as dehydration, also to see if her medication needs to be reassessed, as this too can cause these problems. Best of luck, I hope all goes well for you all.