hi i have a few questions on dementia with lewy bodies, my great grandmother is seeing and believing there are 8 people in her house and will talk to them all the time, even thinks they are stealing from her...Sunday night she was found out in the snow and she could have been there from anytime between 5 all the way to 8:30 when she was found. do you have any advice? we tried the hospital but the doctor (dr micheal plunkett said she was able to go home) we are unable to afford a home with out her staying another day at the hospital. all dr plunkett had to say was he is able to afford to pay 8000 for his mom to be in a home...we really can t afford it...i don t know what to do
Hello and thanks for your query. I understand that you are very distressed by your mothers deteriorating health condition. People with Lewy Body Dementia often have psychotic symptoms like hallucinations and delusions. Your mothers paranoid beliefs that other people are trying to steal from her are delusions. Her symptom of seeing other people who are not there are hallucinations. Unfortunately, people with Lewy Body Dementia deteriorate with time and their memory, intellectual capability and functioning keep worsening. Soon they may become totally dependent for even day-to-day activities. So, you need to plan how you are going to take care of her. Unfortunately, this illness is not curable and progressive deterioration is inevitable. So, you have to take care of her yourself or have a carer to take care of her. Since you say that she is already putting herself at risk by wandering away, continues care and monitoring is essential.