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McHutchison wrote:
>
> All ---
>
> My mom asked me to post this query to my "net-buddies", as she put it.  We know that paranoia and hallucinations are all part of the Parkinson's
package, but f
>
> He's absolutely convinced that there is / has been / will be a fire at the nursing home.  Monday morning, in fact, the director of social
services "walked" wit
>
> It was suggested to him that he go downstairs, and outside, so that he could see that the building was fine.  He got quite indignant, stating
that he couldn't
>
> They finally convinced him to go down, and Mom and he sat in the community room downstairs.  The primary purpose for getting him off of
the 2nd floor that afte
>
> Another evening recently Dad hustled Mom out of the day room they were visiting in.  When she asked why, he told her simply to move it now, and
he'd explain la
>
> Now.  He's never been in a fire;  My uncles are all firefighters, as are my brother-in-law, nephew, husband, and myself.  We've never had any
of our homes dama
>
> Could it be that because he can't do anything for himself (get out of bed, walk alone, etc.) that he's feeling trapped, and worrying?  What is
it with the fire
>
> Thanks for any and all input.  We're all baffled.
>
> Diane McHutchison
> LD Caregiver for Dad (69/7+)


Diane,

I'm sorry to say I don't have any answers for you, just a suggestion.  I
am going through the same thing with my grandmother.  There are several
different themes to her hallucinations. Fire is one of them.  She's had
this one numerous times.  For a while I tried to convince her there
hadn't been a fire, but it just antagonized her.  I read, and I have
found it to be true in her case, that the best thing to do is not to
argue or try to convince her, but to just say "oh" (or some other
noncomittal remark) and change the subject to something else.  Trying to
get her to look at things logically and reasonably just makes her upset.
>From talking to her, it's obvious to me, that the fire is just as real to
her as the chair she's sitting on. If I don't disagree with her, she
generally doesn't dwell on the hallucination and therefore doesn't
become agitated.  Maybe this will work for you until your dad's
medication can be looked into.

Lori Bauer cg for grandmother 87/7
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