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Understanding the difference between dementia over psychiatric
My mom has went into full blown dementia, and my sister has had her admitted to a psyche ward. My mom started a week ago repeating herself and stuck on saying she is going to prison and call everyone so she can say goodbye. She is saying she stole a 1/2 million dollars from a dept store that went out of business over 30 yrs ago. She doesn't know the details of exactly when or how she did this but just knows there is a record. My mom hasn't had so much as even a speeding ticket let a lone any other kind of a record. My sister cant handle her being stuck on this same claim and continuing to repeat over and over so she believes she has lost her mind over loosing her memory. My mom sits in psyche ward all day alone only allowing visitors daily for 2 hrs which she has never in her life had psychiatric issues or needed psychiatric care of any kind. My mom is fully aware of where she is and who has put her there and was angry the day my sister took her there and who wouldn't. My sister is now mad at me for being upset that she has mistaken her dementia for being psychiatric and insisting she be prescribed psyche pills for her behavior. My mom was a shop a holic and had a big issue with credit cards that drove my dad crazy, but was always manageable always got payed off. I understand she is believing she stole everything because she always paid with plastic rather than cash and is why she believes now that she stole all of what she bought and paid for after the fact. I just responded to her with ok we will just wait then for the judge to come and pick her up and she accepted that and I believe she is confusing her death for going to prison. Anyone experience anything similar?
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@krisnphx Wow, this is a tough situation. A lot of what you are able to do depends upon whther proper paperwork is in place for your sister to manage your Mom's medical care. If not, it may be possible for you to intervene and get a better diagnosis.
Are you physically able to step in and manage her care?
Was Mom living independently or with your sister when this occurred?
Do you know if your Mom is on a "Psych Hold" ordered by the courts, or an involuntary commitment? If so, she probably has a court-appointed guardian, and you can contact them. If not, and you have a safe place to relocate her, you may be able to do this, if you or Mom has access to her funds.
Has Mom already been diagnosed with dementia or cognitive impairment? If not, may I suggest an evaluation by her primary and probably a neurologist?
Sending you positive thoughts as you work your way through this.
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4 Reactions@krisnphx I understand your worry about your mother. I would feel the same in such a situation. Are you located in the same community as your mother?
In my experience getting admitted to psych inpatient is done when the person/patient is evaluated by two physicians (one of these physicians is often a psychiatrist) or a physician and psychologist as being at imminent risk of harm to self or to others. That's the case, anyway, in Michigan where I reside. What does "imminent risk" mean? That can mean that the person is so out of touch with reality that they cannot take care of themself. That latter reason, though, has to be very carefully evaluated and documented in order for such an admission to psych inpatient to occur.
What you have described as your mother believing that she "stole 1/2 million dollars from a department store" could be a symptom of dementia. Has your mother already been diagnosed with dementia? Here is something that may help you to understand your mother's belief that she has stolen money.
Alzheimer's Association: Suspicions and Delusions:
- https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/stages-behaviors/suspicions-delusions
I'm wondering if your mother has been living alone? If yes, then the belief you described may not be dangerous but she may have other beliefs that are dangerous. Do you have permission/release of information to speak with the medical staff at psych inpatient about your mother?
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