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What Causes Elderly People To Hallucinate?
My 88 y/o father started hallucinating about 2 weeks ago. He has been on antibiotics since then for UTI, but hallucinations are continuing. He has been to 2 doctors who have no answers. He hasn't fallen and he has been in fair health other than COPD. He has been "talking" to his deceased brother and wife, sees mice running in his room, etc. Is this the beginning of the end?
Thu, 28 Feb 2019
Hello,
Sorry to hear about your father. Hallucinating is common feature in old ages. As there is always a degenerative changes in the Brain and some centres of the brain may do malfunction.
I am sorry but cannot give a judgement about it is the end or not. But still having him get Physically examined along with MRI brain so we can figure out what areas of the brain are getting degenerate and blood routine if he has any infection leading to the symptoms.
Usually, in old age, people tend to get depressed faster and takes times for them to come out.
As they have no physical work to keep them occupy it is common for them to think in negative way more. Putting them on proper care, attention therapy and medication should help them.
For COPD we need to check his lungs for any signs of pulmonary obstruction.
As any kind of pulmonary obstruction can lead to impurity of the blood and the supply of blood reaching to brain may not be pure enough to allow normal functions to occur.
In my practice of 12 years I have seen cases with similar problems. What has helped then is medication, attention therapy and exercises.
We have always tried to make then occupied with something or other so that they don't get into depression and feel they are normal like others to live.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Jay Indravadan Patel, Physical Therapist or Physiotherapist
Sorry to hear about your father. Hallucinating is common feature in old ages. As there is always a degenerative changes in the Brain and some centres of the brain may do malfunction.
I am sorry but cannot give a judgement about it is the end or not. But still having him get Physically examined along with MRI brain so we can figure out what areas of the brain are getting degenerate and blood routine if he has any infection leading to the symptoms.
Usually, in old age, people tend to get depressed faster and takes times for them to come out.
As they have no physical work to keep them occupy it is common for them to think in negative way more. Putting them on proper care, attention therapy and medication should help them.
For COPD we need to check his lungs for any signs of pulmonary obstruction.
As any kind of pulmonary obstruction can lead to impurity of the blood and the supply of blood reaching to brain may not be pure enough to allow normal functions to occur.
In my practice of 12 years I have seen cases with similar problems. What has helped then is medication, attention therapy and exercises.
We have always tried to make then occupied with something or other so that they don't get into depression and feel they are normal like others to live.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Jay Indravadan Patel, Physical Therapist or Physiotherapist
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