Is Your Senior at Increased Risk for Suffering Hallucinations and Delusions?

Between 20 and 30% of the one million people throughout the United States were currently living with Parkinson’s disease will experience hallucinations or delusions as symptoms of their disease.

These symptoms, described as a form of psychosis, can be very intimidating for your aging parent, and for you as their family caregiver. By understanding, if your parent is at increased risk for suffering this type of symptom, you can better monitor your senior’s condition, detect when they might be experiencing hallucinations or delusions, and take the steps to help them cope with these effectively. Hallucinations and delusions are not always severe, and those who experience them may not be bothered by them at all times, but that does not mean they should not be managed. As with other symptoms, these can worsen throughout the progression of PD and should be handled as promptly and appropriately as possible.

Home Care Services in Herriman UT: Is Your Senior at Risk?

Some factors that might put your aging parent at increased risk for suffering hallucinations and delusions include:

• Impaired memory
• Dementia diagnosis
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Vivid dreaming
• Sleep Disorders, including REM sleep disruption
• Older age
• Vision problems
• Use of certain medications for PD

If your parent has been experiencing hallucinations or delusions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with it their doctor.

Even if these symptoms are mild, or they don’t bother your parents, it is important to discuss them with their doctor so they can be integrated into their care and management approach. This can include changing their medications or doses, treating sleep disruptions and disorders to improve sleep, and helping to manage depression more effectively. It is important to also consider the risks these symptoms can cause, such as increasing wandering tendencies and take steps to reduce those risks.

Starting senior care for your aging parent can be one of the best decisions you make with them at the beginning of a progression with Parkinson’s disease. Watching your senior move through the various stages of this disease can be extremely challenging, but it is critical you plan for proper care and support from the very beginning. A senior home care services provider can be there for your parent even when their challenges are minor to help them cope with what they are facing now, and also prepare for the future. This can give your parent greater confidence to continue enjoying the lifestyle that is right for them, and comfort you as their family caregiver in knowing they are getting everything they need at each stage.

Are you or a loved one considering Home Care Services in Herriman, UT? Please talk to the friendly staff at December Rose Senior Care at Home. Providing Home Care in Highland, Utah and Surrounding Communities. 801-427-ROSE (7673)

Sources:

http://www.parkinson.org/

http://parkinson.org/Understanding-Parkinsons