My wife was diagnosed with moderate ALZ with Capgras (imposter syndrome) and Reduplicative Paramnesia (experiences an exact duplicate house right next to hers)delusions in 12/2021. How have others expressed these delusions and how have caregivers strategized around them?
Apparently 8-10% of ALZ patients have these delusions. I am continually surprised that there is almost zero content/discussion about an aspect that has so much impact on the lo and caregiver.
The impact, you are correct, is massive for any caregiver. I am afraid that at this stage many choose to have their elder loved one in in-facility care.
As far as how people are handling, primarily with medications to calm, I would imagine, along with all the side effects of THAT. Someone thusly calmed is much more prone to falls and other mishaps.
Have you, currently dealing with this, some suggestions for others you might share?
What has worked for you; what has not?
Are you considering in-facility care?
What issues are you facing today, this moment, that we might comment on with any suggestions?
Were any of the August comments at all helpful to you, Randal?
Also would like to let you know that Facebook has SEVERAL Capras Syndrome groups that may or may not be especially helpful to you; I found several Lewy's groups quite informative. You have to join these groups, that is to say not open to the general public, but that may be worth a try.
Wish I could be more helpful and wishing you the best.
I’m so glad you posted. I have never seen the term Reduplicative Paramnesia before though after looking it up I can tell you that yes, my FIL had it. I have spoken of it on the forum before but I don’t think his was officially diagnosed.
He thought he had an identical home in a neighboring community complete with identical furnishings.
He, along with three other elder family members, was evacuated ahead of a hurricane. When his granddaughter went to his home for meds and supplies he asked me which house she went to. The one in community A (his real home) or community B? I just simply told him, Community A. He was satisfied with that answer. Once my husband took him for a ride and asked him to show him the other home. Of course he could not. We just changed the subject when it came up. He seemed to be able to tell that we found it surprising but he never changed his story.
I would think the imposter portion would be harder to deal with for the spouse. The Reduplicative Paramnesia was not difficult once family understood what was going on. His dementia was as you described your wife’s, moderate. The dementia we surmised, was due to a bad fall and long hospitalization about 8-9 years earlier.