Mom insists there is water being sprinkled on her from the neighbor upstairs. Could it be dementia?

For some people, the complaints and reports of harassment may just be attention getters...some people just never outgrow this. Still, they can be caused by disease, medications, illnesses, etc. How can you ever really know? I don't have the answers, either. Just a lot more questions.

As far back as I can remember my mom NEVER got along with the neighbors. Our family and the neighbors would be friends for awhile then mom would say I couldn't talk to the kids anymore because their parents did something to make her mad. Fast forward thru the years and many neighborly fights later, she was still at it when she bought her last home. I'd prayed for this to finally be over but no. She thought the neighbor upstairs was selling pot and called the cops. Then she said he was harassing her, calling her at all hours. I forwarded her calls to my phone...nothing happened. I told her I'd believe her when something could be proved, she couldn't. It would've been easier to blame it on dementia but she didn't have it. She didn't take much medicine until her last few years. I never knew what to blame it on. She never admitted she had a problem. It was frustrating for all of us.

Gosh I have been there with mom. Sometimes it's meds sometimes it's her dementia. I have learned that most of the time I just acknowledge what she says and change the subject or change the room she's in to not give her so much stimulation and that does wonders for her. It's always on a day to day basis. Sometimes she says there is water on the floor too and there is nothing there. The reason I do acknowledge it is because once in awhile she is seeing something that is there so I don't want to blow her off. It's tough but you can only do the best you can. Sometimes just redirecting or changing the subject works. I keep a calendar for mom of things that she does to see if I can say what has changed meds or something and that helps. It's amazing how the days are ok but when the sun goes down she changes. Hang in there and know that your mom is in there somewhere and just do the best you can. Patience is the best or if you need to walk away. I know sometimes if I stay with mom she seems to get worse about something and most of the time she has gotten over it or has calmed down. Good luck.

I think sometimes these things are just from old age.....my mother, who is 87 and does not have dementia, told me one night that she had to sleep in her tv room because she heard "animals" scratching in the heat vent.....
Another time she said "do you realize that there is something trapped under the wallpaper in the bathroom? I know, because I saw it moving -- don't you see it moving?"
Needless to say, I did NOT see or hear anything. I find that the older she gets, the older she hears, sees and smells things that are not there. One night she complained that someone in the house was smoking marijuana and that she was going to call the police!!
If it continues or worsens I would certainly speak to her physician. The truth is that at their age, they are on so much medication that anything can happen!!

While I'm waiting for this site to close my account (I was checking to see if it had yet been deactivated) , I saw your posting and had to ask you this: you said there was a vent above her. Is this an air conditioning vent? If yes, is the ac on? B/c these vents do drip condensation. Could it be that simple? I hope it is . Or the sprinkler malfunctioning?

PS: Site monitor, I still want my acccount closed . Thank you.

Ok, thanks Jeanne. I think I'm a little over-sensitive about possibly being offensive or dogmatic. I don't mean to be either. Sometimes ( mostly) I am pretty direct. I realize we are communicating on a sensitive level. Just wanted you and everyone to know I was aware:) That's all. xoxo

Oh Gee, Christina, I didn't have your response in mind at all when I wrote mine. I think it is good that we all can suggest possible causes. I'm just also glad that Aff1rm348 is also seeking the opinion and advice of a specialist.

Also consider the possibility she might be overmedicated. When this happens, it's easy for the thin membrane between reality and fantasy to become blurred. Here's an example:

While on morphine after major surgery back over 10 years ago, I'd be raising my hands to snatch the frigging parakeets flying and sh___ng on my face. Since my mouth was wired shut, I'd be writing down messages for the nurses: "Call animal control;" "Do you know it's illegal to have pets in an IC unit?;" "Wipe this parakeet dung from my face;" "Do you see them flying all over the ceiling?" ... Are you blind?" ... How come I see them but you don't?" Things on the wall were moving, oxygen lines turned to snakes. Was I demented? It looked like it.

Whatever medications she's on, research the side effects.

Sorry, I should have said that I have felt this sensation, myself, from taking certain meds. I was told by the doctor that neuropathy could be caused by this. I did not mean to infer that I was guessing what was wrong with your Mother.
Thank you, Jeanne, for gently reminding me of how I said that:)

Poor Mom! Something is causing the sensation of water on her skin. Her brain is misfiring in some way. Whether that is an early indication of dementia or something else entirely is not for us to guess. I am certainly glad you are taking her to the doctor about this.

Mom is lucky to have you looking out for her!

If you have time, please come back and keep us updated. We learn from each other.

Realistically, It sounds like a type of neuropathy of her sensory nerves. Sometimes brought on by taking certain meds for a while, like flagyll.
I agree with Chicago; she believes it to be real.
Metaphysically, there are phenomena occurring on the planet that we cannot be sure of. Like when you see things in your room at night as a child? Everyone tells you that you are imagining it? Maybe not. Compassion and sensitivity, always:)xo

I don't have an answer, but wanted to say how awful it would be to think that water is being sprayed on you. It is very real to the person experiencing it.

I really appreciate all your responses to my question. My mother is 75 years old, and I have a appointment today with the Neurologist today, she actually feels the water! I've reassured her nothing is there, and I've had her urine tested and changed one of her medicines and they say she's fine. Regarding the stalker guy, he was from my mother's old apartment. The lady above us has recently died and her son is in the process of moving her belongings out now, he has until the 15th of this month. Hopefully the Neurologist will be able to help. She realizes that there is no water after I get her to feel the area or her feet, etc....

during the early part of the disease, although none of us knew it was alzheimer's, my mom reported that the downstairs neighbor was squirtting water onto my moms condo balcony...mom reported this many time...when i visited i couldn't see any hoses of anything of course..there were some other odd reports as well

My husband has been diagnosed with Dementia NOS (Not Otherwise Specified, my favorite diagnosis) but his neurologist has suggested that he might have Lewy Body Dementia because he also has Parkinson's-like gait problems. Lewy Body dementia often first presents as behavior changes and disturbances before the more typical symptoms of dementia like memory loss show up, unlike Alzheimer's Disease. Hallucinations also go along with this type of dementia. If your will consent to it, I suggest having her evaluated by an experienced neuropsychologist. It is important to get an idea of what is going on since the medications to treat Lewy Body Dementia are sometimes different from those given for AD and the disease does progress somewhat differently. I also agree that you should keep a journal to document your mother's symptoms so that you can report them as accurately as possible to her doctors.

Sounds kinda odd, but since the upstairs neighbor was stalking your mother and ordered to leave??? is it not possilbe that somehow the neighbor got water on your mom, could it be possible to start a sprinkler from above her head from the apartment's above floor being heated to a point of starting the sprinkler downstairs?

From what I understand, hallucinations are more a part of Lewy Body Dementia than Alzheimer's. BUT has there been a change in medication? Does she have a UTI? Read what you can about any meds she is taking. One of these may be causing her problems, but do get her to a doctor WITH WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION of what is happening. The more precise information you can provide, the easier the doctor will be able to properly diagnose your Mom's problem. My husband was hearing things and was displaying paranoia. He is on new medication which has helped a lot. Good luck!

Its possible these might be some early symptoms of dementia. How old is your mother? My dad (diagnosed with Alzheimer's but I'm becoming more sure that its Lewy Body) has never complained of having water sprinkled on him. He does, however, frequently insist that there are puddles of water on the floor and that there must be a drip or leak coming from somewhere. Normally this happens in the bathroom or the kitchen. He sees the water, but when I ask him to bend down and touch it, he admits that he can't feel it. Does your mom actually feel the water hitting her, or does she see it?