Mom with dementia having hallucinations

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi! I hope it's okay to post this. ER and psych nurses may have some good input. My poor mom, age 77 with dementia is having visual and sensory hallucinations. I live on the opposite side of the country, so I'm getting this information from family. I'm a nurse, but not sure what the best course of action should be.

Background: My mom has vascular dementia. Her mobility has been quite poor the last couple of years. At baseline, she uses the walker and needs help to and from the toilet. She had a hip replacement in mid April and then 2 weeks in rehab. The goal was to help her pain, not necessarily improve her mobility. A couple days after coming home, she suddenly got very weak and more confused. Turns out, she had a UTI. She was treated with the right oral antibiotics. Urine was retested Saturday and the infection is clear.

After a few days on antibiotics, her mobility improved greatly. However, she started seeing little threads moving on her legs. That didn't seem terribly upsetting to her, but it progressed to her feeling like her legs were going up to the ceiling and at times feels that her whole body is going up to the ceiling. She goes into a panic when this happens. This has been happening a couple times a day. I know she needs to see a psychiatrist. 

Should she go to ER to get a psych evaluation? Or make an appointment and hope my poor dad can handle it until then? He is having a very difficult time. My dad is contacting the doctor's office today.

 

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kar212, I am going through the same thing so I feel for you but you know we can't give medical advice here. 

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2 minutes ago, Wuzzie said:

kar212, I am going through the same thing so I feel for you but you know we can't give medical advice here. 

Oh, I get that. I just figured someone here has seen or heard or experienced something like this. You also have a parent with dementia?

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I do and frankly it's the worst. I wouldn't wish this on anybody. 

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

My Dad had vascular dementia so understand your concerns. He also developed hallucinations due to antibiotics for UTI/Sepsis -- suspect this may have triggered your mother. As a HH RN, latest medication change always needs to be reviewed with regards to change in patient condition + PCP promptly notified. 

Please ask for a home health referral for Nursing, PT, and MSW-Social Worker to provide your parents the support they need

Common Antibiotics May Cause Delirium, Confusion And Hallucinations

Hallucinations In The Elderly: Causes, Symptoms and Treat

 

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Specializes in kids.

Who cares for her? I would speak directly to them and have someone get her evaluated either w her PCP or in the ER

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36 minutes ago, NutmeggeRN said:

Who cares for her? I would speak directly to them and have someone get her evaluated either w her PCP or in the ER

My dad is her caregiver. 

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Specializes in kids.
29 minutes ago, kar212 said:

My dad is her caregiver. 

It is so hard to watch them fail....big hugs

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Specializes in NICU/Mother-Baby/Peds/Mgmt.

A friend's mom had the same thing happen, they eventually diagnosed her with Lewy Body dementia.  I posted her case on the fb page "School Nursing" and got lots of suggestions of things to check.  I'll go look now but if this topic gets closed just email me via this page.  

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Specializes in NICU/Mother-Baby/Peds/Mgmt.

OK, here are all the things the nurses suggested....

UTI, one gal said she's been negative on labs but still having sxs that went away with abx

Sleep deprivation/ benzos to help with sleep/withdrawal of sleep meds

MRI to check for tumor

B12 deficiency, one nurse said her FIL had this

Electrolyte imbalance/ one specifically mentioned ammonia

Mini strokes/TIA

Isolation) decreased stimulation due to disease process/Covid

Carbon monoxide poisoning

Covid, one home hx nurse said that's sometimes the only sign that elderly show

Parkinson's

Dehydration/malnutrition

Normal pressure hydrocephalus

Low or high pressure CSF

Head injury, has she fallen recently?

 

Good luck.  I know how it is to be away from your parents when they have health problems, this happened when I was in Texas and my parents in FL.  I eventually ended up moving to FL because I couldn't do much from Texas and my Mom kept crying on the phone with me.  Feel free to email me if you need to talk/vent.  Elaine. 

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14 hours ago, Nunya said:

OK, here are all the things the nurses suggested....

UTI, one gal said she's been negative on labs but still having sxs that went away with abx

Sleep deprivation/ benzos to help with sleep/withdrawal of sleep meds

MRI to check for tumor

B12 deficiency, one nurse said her FIL had this

Electrolyte imbalance/ one specifically mentioned ammonia

Mini strokes/TIA

Isolation) decreased stimulation due to disease process/Covid

Carbon monoxide poisoning

Covid, one home hx nurse said that's sometimes the only sign that elderly show

Parkinson's

Dehydration/malnutrition

Normal pressure hydrocephalus

Low or high pressure CSF

Head injury, has she fallen recently?

 

Good luck.  I know how it is to be away from your parents when they have health problems, this happened when I was in Texas and my parents in FL.  I eventually ended up moving to FL because I couldn't do much from Texas and my Mom kept crying on the phone with me.  Feel free to email me if you need to talk/vent.  Elaine. 

Thank you so much!!

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Per the terms of service, medical advice is not permitted, so I am closing this. OP, we wish you the best with this heartbreaking issue and it looks like you made some supportive connections here. ❤️

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