serious question about elderly relative, serious answers only please, thanks?

You need to get professional advice for this one. Not wanting to hurt her feelings might be damaging, in the long run. If there's something wrong, it's best to catch it as early as possible. You are not doing her a favour by humouring her or ignoring some symptoms which might be serious and certainly need assessing by someone with the skills to diagnose the behaviour.

'Most of the time O.K.' is not acceptable. If part of the time there's symptoms of Early Dementia, it needs sorting now, not when it becomes full blown.

The fact that she recognizes the absurdity of her own thinking is a good sign, and I doubt with her Cognitive thinking that she would object to talking with her doctor about this if you were with her to give her support. It's possible that there is some other cause but unfortunately it sounds like it could be the early signs of Alzheimer's. During the early stages of my mother's Alzheimer's, she too recognized the way her mind was slipping, she was constantly complaining about forgetting things. people got tired of hearing her complain about it. But I used to tell her that as long as she could remember that she was forgetting things, she was doing alright. Just like after she would do something out of the ordinary she would recognize that she had just done something strange. Now she doesn't complain anymore or become embarrassed when she does something strange. She doesn't remember what she just said or did. Yes, have her checked out with a doctor to make sure this isn't something that can be remedied but if my suspicions are true, mostly you just need to reassure her and enjoy her while you can. I can only imagine how frightening losing your mind to Alzheimer's must be.

She has probably seen those "viewing telephone" things on TV..and has decided that her TV is something like that.

There is NO sense in arguing with someone over a belief like that, nor does it mean that they are going whacko due to old age. I have known people in days gone by...who were young people and/or middle-aged....and they had more bizarre beliefs and ideas than that.

Just say, well....maybe it is a possibility....just be sure you don't sit naked in front of the TV....

Then, start making sure she is not going to the doctor by herself...and maybe even call ahead and let the doctor know some of the things happening that are concerning you. As old people slip inch by inch into dementia....they don't KNOW they are going there.

Just continue what you're doing. Caring for her and being supportive. It could be that it is just a passing thing brought on my some chemical imbalance that is temporary. However if she keeps having such delusions and seems to be getting worse then you are going to need to involve her doctors. Those kinds of things happen sometimes to elderly people. I think my Dad knew he was slipping and he would just look at me and shake his head. One day he looked at me so sadly and shook his head at something he forgot and said soon they men in the white coats will be coming for me. And the following Sunday evening they did. Only it wasn't the men in the white coats, it was the angels sent to escort another believer home.

She admits she knows they can't see her but she FEELS like they can. Tell her perhaps she should limit the time she spends on TV if it gets on her nerves. Perhaps you could direct her to some other activity, preferably in an area where there's no TV. This is the beginning of a type of dementia and it may or may not get worse. She sounds pretty sharp to me; it's just a matter of it getting on her nerves. You are to be commended for taking care of her.

Your Aunt sounds perfectly well and aware. Since technology it is known that any equipment take can transmit can go either way. Remember the movie "War Games?" She is saying "we are being watched by our government." We know that satillites are able to see through the roofs of our houses. Yes she, we, are being watched, by whatever means gov wants to use: internet, phones, etc. People are so "quick" to assume because reach a particular age expressing what you feel is somehow a mental illness: demetia, chemical imbalance, and on, so they say... Put her on meds. This is not love of a loved one, it is finding the simplest and quickest way to allieviate what they want to see as a "problem," and would do to their elder member of the family. I say, assure her of her awareness that technology has advanced and that her feelings are probably right. Research for yourself to these advancements of tech and have discussions wth her about these facts. As for meds, as most of this forum is pushing.... let them take their members to the pusdhers and dealers of drugs.

If you really want to help your aunt,you need to convince her to see a doctor. What you're describing is very familiar in geriatric patients. I'm not going to venture a diagnosis,but after 30 years as a psychiatric nurse,it seems wise for you to get your aunt professional help. God bless you for caring.

It could just be her way of saying that she isn't interested in TV, or doesn't like what's on...or she could just feel like it's on too much. It could be her way of telling you she thinks YOU'RE watching it too much, and not being attentive enough to her. Sometimes elderly people have childish ways of expressing themselves.

My mom ( 90 ) had similar problems.

She heard music and people talking about her.

It turned out to be her anti-seizure medication.

I suggest your aunt sees a neurologist for a full exam.

Good luck.

Have her see a doctor. Keeping her away from the TV won't help. It'll just sweep it under the rug.