She can't be distracted with activities or humoring - everything is too complex! Mom has moderate dementia - vascular plus Alzheimer's. Always a complex and intelligent woman, and still is - but when she's in "mid-delusion", they're so complex that it's practically impossible to respond. She thinks we're living elsewhere, that people have stolen all her artwork, that I move all of our belongings from place to place, and so on and so forth. She also involves stories from TV into these. Everything is a conspiracy. Any recommendations for more complex delusions and how to diffuse them? One mixed blessing is that her stroke has left her unable to walk,, so she can't take off. Getting harder every day!!
This is definitely something to take to the doctor for help.
Does she live with you, or is she in a residential facility?
Do you have a way to get respite frequently?
Logical reasoning is impossible during these episodes, and disagreeing or arguing with her could only increase her agitation.
I moved in to take care of Mom 5 years ago, in her home. Get respite care in once per week for a day out, and sometimes the odd evening too.
The only recommendation I have is think of what will reassure your mother and do the same each time she repeats a delusion. Sometimes a little humor helps. For example, my mother thought a tree is my neighbor's yard was making her sick, so she was going to cut it down. I told her it wasn't the tree, it was the mailbox, so she should cut down the mailbox. She would think on it for a minute, then realize I was kidding. That ended the conversation about the tree until the next time.
I should mention that, even though the bad delusions have passed now, my mother still has a blanket over the rug in her bedroom. Don't ask me why. I pick it up. She puts it back. I finally realized that it was a trip hazard that was going to be there, no matter what I did. I gave up fighting that battle.