T:Mother and tv	Q:Hi I have a question and has anyone come across this I play my mum lots of DVDs musicals and comedy movies when watching them she assumes the people are real and they are talking to her like if I make her a cup of tea she asks me to ask the people on the tv I amuse her by asking them she can not watch the news or any one getting hurt as she gets upset ifs this apart of dementia another question it is hard to have a conversation with mum as she talks about things that do not relate to the conversation and when I take her out she thinks sometimes people are calling for her yes she does wear hearing aids I have had them checked and her hearing and there is no problem as well she sees people or things that are not there mum wears glasses and told she has macular degeneration iam getting this re-assessed in <time_period> Thank you	A:This is little confusing.
Who said she has macular degeneration?
My Mother did have it .
and she does have dementia at a fairly developed stage.
There can be many things imagined by someone with dementia,  but have you seen a <professional_practitioner> for diagnosis of that?
I've watched people with serious dementia (where my Mother is at) and their reactions can vary tremendously.
Some I've seen seem to be happy all of the time.
Others are very distant.
And yet some others are very crabby most of the time.
I <professional_practitioner> is the best place to start.
Don't let the word <professional_practitioner> scare you.
That might be the best place after you see your primary <professional_practitioner>.
You do need a professional trained opinion .
and maybe some tests.
As long as there's no violence by your mum .
everything should be very workable with a solution.
Best wishes .
.
.
<name>


A:Her <professional_practitioner> yes we have seen a <professional_practitioner> that has diagnosed mum with dementia thank you <name>


A:Hello .
Have you considered having the macular degeration treated?
My mother went to three of the treatment (maybe <time_period> ago).
She was a little stubborn,  didn't like wearing the sunglasses and head coverings,  or having to have someone drive her there.
So,  she told me she's not going anymore.
It's not helping her vision.
I told her it's to prevent further damage - not to improve vision.
She said .
she's stopping .
and she did.
Good luck on the re-assessment.
I hope the dementia she has is not too stressing on you or your family.
It can be .
but it depends so much on the dementia individual.
Wishing you the best.
<name>


A:Well,  you are doing the right thing by going along.
I help out my paternal gma with gpa who has dementia.
He is a military vet,  and he is worse than ever with the spotless house.
Gma tried to clean the top of the stove,  and argued there was nothing there.
I happened to come to visit and she told me what was going on,  and I went up to where he was scrubbing the stove and said papa,  can I help you?
and made it sound like I really wanted to,  he accepted my offer,  and said I would have to use elbowgrease,  and watched me.
By not argueing,  and humouring,  I avoided the behavior he gets cuz of the dementia.
A:Hi,  it's a common symptom of dementia,  thinking that people on TV are real,  and imagining things.
But if it is new,  it's as well to get your Mum checked out by the <professional_practitioner> as it can be a sign of fever or infection.
Another thing which is typical is thinking they have been somewhere they have seen on TV.
We had a friend who was telling everyone they had been to the Olympics because she'd seen it on TV.
You are right playing along with her,  as if you try to argue you'll only make things worse.
There is a new book out for caregivers which explains all the things which can happen and what to do about them: it's called A Healing Hug for Alzheimer's.
You might find it helpful.
