From: drarwingnuttephd@gmail.com   
      
   Hallucinations common in people with dementia   
   By Dr. Pamela Tronetti, For FLORIDA TODAY 12:04 a.m. EDT October 24, 2014   
      
      
      
   Both patients on my house call list had the same address: a high-rise in the   
   middle of town. Both had a diagnosis of dementia and were cared for by their   
   daughters. I was about to find out what else they shared.   
      
   I began on the fifth floor, where a wild-eyed daughter pulled me into the   
   apartment.   
      
   "You have to make it go away. It's driving mom crazy!"   
      
   "Make what go away?" I asked.   
      
   "The horse."   
      
   "I'll see what I can do." I said, wondering what I've gotten myself into.   
      
   I entered the bedroom where an angelic octogenarian was sipping her tea.   
      
   "Mom, this lady doctor is here to help you . . ." she gulped, "with the horse."   
      
   The dear soul upended the teacup.   
      
   "That awful creature! Every night it comes through the window. It's as white   
   as a ghost with bulging blood-red eyes and sharp yellow teeth!" She started   
   trembling.   
      
   By the time we concluded our visit, I assured mother and daughter that some   
   changes, including medication, should make the horse fade away.   
      
   On the ninth floor, mother and daughter met me in the living room. We started   
   our visit with routine questions. Then it happened.   
      
   "Mom, tell the doctor about your horse."   
      
   "Oh, my pretty pony." She smiled like a horse-crazy girl.   
      
   "Every night she visits me in my room. She's a milk-white albino with rosebud   
   pink eyes and a velvety mouth. I just love her."   
      
   Obviously, this horse really got around. When I asked the daughter privately   
   if she wanted it to go away, she nixed the idea.   
      
   "No way! Mom looks forward to seeing that horse every night."   
      
   Hallucinations are common in people with dementia.   
      
   In auditory hallucinations, the patient hears things that are not there --   
   like neighbors playing polka music or arguing. Sometimes, it may be muffled   
   voices, resulting in the fear that "people are talking about me."   
      
   Of course, if a family member stays over, the noisy neighbors, quarreling   
   lovers or gossiping voices quit.   
      
   Visual hallucinations usually involve seeing children or "little people." The   
   apparitions do not speak and generally stay still, although sometimes the   
   children are playing.   
      
   As one gentleman described his illusionary companion: "I just sit looking at   
   him and he just sits looking at me."   
      
   Most patients do not feel threatened, although seeing a man (or horse) in the   
   room may be frightening. Hallucinations generally occur when the person is   
   alone and in dim light.   
      
      
   http://www.floridatoday.com/story/life/wellness/2014/10/24/hallu   
   inations-common-people-dementia/17782939/   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)