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My 96yo mother is hallucinating about people being in the house, moving things around and giving her injections. She lives alone, does not want anyone in the house to help and is adamant about staying in her home and alone even though she is afraid. What to do when a LO refuses any help?

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Get her evaluated for dementia, and if you have to, seek guardianship to get her placed in a memory care facility. My mother's hallucinations turned violent. You don't want to have to explain to your mother while lucid that she seriously harmed an innocent person. At one point my mom, living alone, imagined that someone was "coming to get her" so she fled her home, in the dark, in the rain, and almost was in an auto accident. Thankfully a police officer saw her erratic driving and had her taken to the hospital which led to her getting placed in memory care. Yes, it is hard, but seeing them warm, safe and well fed brings a lot of peace.
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Have a doctor check mer meds. Lots can result in hallucinations, especially in combination. What TV shows is she watching? With my uncle what ever TV show he was watching is reality (long distance truck driver, dog rescue, etc). He call me up to let me know and that he is back in bed because all the driving wore him out. Also as others have said for UTI or other physical illness that can be causing. Then get POA (medical and financial) in place. If it is dementia, she may have limited time before she is competent to sign one. With her knowledge, place cameras so you can be aware of what is going on. Press on getting someone in the house with her. Trying selling it as just a companion.
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You never know what directions the hallucinations will take. True story, people I know: RBM started having hallucinations and believed that an acquaintance who had recently died was speaking into his ear. RBM said he had a conversation with that person, and the person told him he'd shot himself in the head to commit suicide. Then RBM told his wife that he could shoot himself in the head too. Spouse was alarmed and able to hide the guns. Spouse found out later that the acquaintance didn't commit suicide but died in a hospital with his wife holding his hand.

Hallucinations are nothing to fool with. Your mother needs to be safeguarded, preferably in a locked dementia unit.
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I know it’s not a popular answer but if all else is in good order (as much as it can be at 96) then I would leave her where she wants to be.

If this is new behavior be sure to check for a UTI.

Some people live for years with auditory hallucinations, I know two personally and neither is caused by dementia. Google auditory hallucinations and it might give you a hint of which direction to go on checking it out. As they are stressful to her she should try to find relief. It could be a medication or beginnings of some sort of illness. For sure her sleep must be disturbed.
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Julie71: She needs to see a neurologist posthaste. There is NO WAY she should live alone.
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Speaking honestly, the day I transitioned my mom to a nursing center was one of the worst days of my life. It was at the insistence of her doctor that the decision was made. I am grateful for the guidance. Once my mom got settled in she eventually realized her days were much easier than being home alone. I understand the agony of this transition for our LO and for us. My good thoughts are with you and your mom.
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Your mother shouldn't be alone, she's distracted by her hallucinations and who knows what could happen next? I don't see how she's managed things for this long alone. It time to be placed in a safe environment where she's comfortable and not afraid. Being afraid and alone is only going to intensify the hallucinations and probably end up with panic attacks or heart failure. There's got to be some way to reach her,to tell her she's not safe where she's at and this is no way for her to live. At her age,maybe she's forgotten to take her medications and this is contributing to her health? She can no longer take care of herself, you or POA have to do something, even if it means calling adult protection services.
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An afterthought: I sent away for Phillips LifeLine for my mother. Detects if she should fall. Easy hookup, box needs electric outlet by a window. Wear it like a necklace. Will call ER services and contact designated in-state relative when necessary. Excellent service. Gives mom a sense of security and eases my worries. Perhaps you would find it helpful.
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My 89 yo mother started hearing knocking on the door at night, people banging pots in the kitchen, actions similar to your mother's. She only accepted caregivers into her home when I couldn't help her due to a surgery that left me unable to help myself for 8 months. Early Alzheimers was her diagnosis.
You cannot force your LO to accept help. That's a hard reality to which you will have to reconcile.
Suggestion: In writing, offer your mother a list of names & numbers of who can help her. For example: Meals on Wheels, a How-To on setting up pharmacy delivery, so-and-so who will wash/dry her clothes, etc. Insurance companies or her city can provide transportation to her doctors' appointments.
List what you are willing to do, like, every Saturday maybe you will do her laundry, clean her bathroom.
Give your mother the freedom to make decisions for herself. To force the issue may only serve to distance her from you and cause resentment.
All you can do is offer help. But you will need to step back and let mom be the master of her life. Hard to accept because we worry for our loved ones.
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Julie71 Jul 31, 2025
Thank you for insight, it is difficult to step back and not want to do it myself but she tells me "I can do it myself " so I am learning to let her speak for herself. I understand her determination to stay at home and I want to respect that. I don't know what the next step will be.
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My husband had Lewy Body and he had terrible hallucinations, dozers working across the street, people coming to get him at night and taking to a warehouse where it was cold, he tried to call me and I wouldn't come. That is the short list of things he would tell me. It was worse when he was home because I couldn't get away from hearing about them, once he was placed in a facility at least I could go home and achieve some peace. I cannot imagine what the chaos was like in his mind, I felt so bad for him but there was nothing I could do. No medication helped, some made him worse. It's a terrible thing to see and to know you can't do anything to help them.
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She’s in no mental state to be living alone. Nor is she in the right mental state to determine her own destiny. Mom can’t be in charge anymore. You have to be.

Contact her doctor and describe what you have told us. Mom needs an evaluation, and you should prepare for the next step. That’s going to be 24/7 care, maybe medication, and a big change for her. I’m sorry this is happening and wish you the best of luck.
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AlvaDeer Jul 28, 2025
I agree with Fawnby. You are badly in need of a diagnosis. These sound very much like the hallucinations from Lewy's Dementia.
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