Recently my husband has been having conversations with someone not there. It is like he hears them talking. Answers and asks questions. Fortunately he laughs and seems to enjoy the conversations. So I don't interfere. He also refers to himself as "us". Seems to be split personality. He also refers to himself as a kid. He thinks his clothes are too big. Today he became very agitated and kept yelling that he couldn't do "anything" like s child who is grounded, and he also said he wanted to die.

4

Have more questions and don't know where to turn?


Join our community and get access to monthly support calls, an online chat forum for questions, and even monthly 1:1 calls with Rachael! CLICK HERE for more information.

You say “recently,” so I am wondering how new this is. If it is super new, I would take him to a physician to ensure that this is not being caused by an underlying medical condition or new drug interaction on top of his preexisting dementia. It could also be a urinary tract infection.

As long as it is not something like that, go with his flow. Sounds to me like he could have Dementia with Lewy Bodies because of his hallucinations. Does he have any Parkinson’s-like symptoms? 

I’m glad he’s happy about his conversations with his imaginary companion. that’s really the best case scenario. You have an interesting opportunity here to ask him about his companion and learn a little more. This could be an enjoyable, although a little strange, experience for both of you.

This new event, where he is upset and yelling, makes me think that there could be another medical issue going on. I recommend getting a doctor to see him today or very soon so that you can rule out any other underlying issues.

Liked it? Take a second to support Rachael Wonderlin on Patreon!
Become a patron at Patreon!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rachael Wonderlin is an internationally-recognized dementia care expert and consultant. She has a Master’s in Gerontology and is the author of three published books with Johns Hopkins University Press. Rachael owns Dementia By Day, a dementia care consulting and education company.

16 things poster
Get the FREE “16 Things” poster!

You're not alone!

Get personal support from Rachael and connect with other Caregivers when you join our community.

16 Things I Would Want If I Got Dementia

Get the FREE “16 Things” poster for your personal use—or better yet—your dementia care community’s staff break room!

I wrote this poem years ago, but to date, it’s the most popular piece I’ve ever created.

16 things poster
Shopping Cart