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I started caring for my father last year due to some noticing he wasn't continuing to fix things around his home. I have been fixing small things off and on for several years, as he was apparently hiding that the bigger items weren't getting taken care of (hot water heater leaking, furnace not properly working, etc...). I have repaired all issues in the home and got the TV working on an antenna. I have a POA and do all this banking. We have been to the doctor and started running tests and analysis on his care (he hadn't been in years). Most of the time he is fine and does a lot of things for himself still. He loves feeding his chickens and gathering eggs. The biggest issue I have and don't know what to do is he is talking to people and seeing people in his home that are not there when he watches TV. This wasn't an issue until we got him an antenna to watch local channels. He truly believes these people are there. I don't want to leave him with no TV to watch, as that is what he does half the day. Is this normal and is there something more I can do to help? He doesn't want to leave the farm, but it's strange and hard to not argue to try to get him to understand that these people are just on TV and not really there.

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How old is your dad? It is strange that he is seeing people in his home. Has he ever had mental issues in the past? Do NOT argue with him about getting him to understand that what he's seeing isn't real. Obviously, there is something going on with him cognitively or mentally that is going to keep him from being able to understand this. Most people want to stay in their homes but it is not always feasible or safe, as they continue to decline.

Maybe you can get him a helper? Someone to cook/clean? And keep an eye on him?
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I'm currently helping my 99-yr old aunt with advanced dementia. Although she doesn't hallucinate seeing people, she definitely "internalizes" negative things she sees or hears on the tv, especially starting in the afternoons as she begins to "sundown". Our strategy is that she only watches happy, simple and uplifting dvds (mostly Disney and Pixar). But this requires us to load and run them for her (she is hardly mobile and does not do many other activities anymore. Whenever someone inadvertently switches the tv back to the news or a dark, violent show she starts to imagine horrible things happening to her.

Honestly if I were in your situation I would consider an AL for your father. There's nothing beneficial in him being alone all day long. And, he apparently needs a higher level of attention than what you're able and willing to provide. This is not a failure -- this is just a necessity to keep him safe and mentally calm, and also for your own caregiving wellbeing.

As againx100 observed, the hallucinations need to be addressed...he could have a UTI which often manifests in confusion, delusions and changed behaviors. Antibiotics would help him. An unchecked UTI can turn septic and be very dangerous for him. There are probably meds to address non-UTI hallucinations but then someone needs to stand there and hand them to him, making sure he actually consumes them. At this point I would not trust anything he tells you about any situation, since him memory can be impacted (no matter how "confident" or insistent he is at his answer). Again, he may be ready for AL or MC. May you have peace in your heart as your work to help stabilize his situation and yours.
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He needs to see a Neurologist to see if there is some Dementia here. With my Mom TV and dreams became part of her reality. She also saw a little girl and she would disappear when I showed up. I would not take his TV away. My Mom did think they were real people. She told me one day the doctor wanted to talk to me. The doctor was Dick VanDyke on diagnosis Murder.
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You say in your profile that your father has Alzheimer's/dementia and also have your post listed under that heading, so the fact that he's seeing people shouldn't surprise you, as that is very common with folks with any of the dementias. It's probably best that you just go along with him and not try and argue otherwise, as that will make your life much easier.
You may want to start educating yourself on Alzheimer's/dementia, so you will be better prepared to deal with his behaviors. Your fathers brain is broken, and it will never get better, but will only continue to get worse, so the more knowledge you have, the better you will be to deal with him. Teepa Snow has lots of great videos on YouTube, that you can watch about dementia, and of course there are a lot great articles on this forum. You can just click on the heading "Care Topics." I wish you well as you continue on this journey with your dad.
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