See What Parkinson’s Disease Hallucinations Are With Your Fargo, ND Comfort Keepers®
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a central nervous system disorder that is most common in seniors age 60 and older. It generally begins with a barely noticeable tremor in the hands, with symptoms that increase in severity as the disease progresses.
While there are many motor symptoms associated with PD, it is important to remember that there are non-motor symptoms as well. Your loved one with PD may experience things like insomnia and vivid dreams, vision problems and dizziness, or hallucinations and delusions. Hallucinations and delusions can be particularly difficult to cope with and can cause undue stress for your loved one.
It is estimated that around 50% of people with PD will experience hallucinations or delusions.
Understanding Parkinson's Disease Hallucinations And Delusions
Right now, there is no way to accurately predict which people with PD will experience hallucinations or delusions or even explain what causes them in the first place. There are, however, theories. One theory supposes that the hallucinations and delusions are simply a natural part of the progression of PD, while another states that they may be a side effect of certain dopamine therapies. Risk factors may include:
- Certain medications that increase dopamine levels
- Duration and severity of Parkinson’s
- Getting older
Healthcare providers may refer to these hallucinations or delusions as Parkinson’s Disease Psychosis, or PDP.
What To Look For
If you have a loved one with PD, there are signs that you can watch for in order to tell if they are experiencing hallucinations or delusions. These are a few of them:
Signs that a loved one may be experiencing hallucinations can include seeing, smelling, tasting, hearing, or feeling things that are not really there.
Signs that a loved one may be experiencing delusions can include:
- Thinking someone is trying to steal from, harm, or deceive them
- Believing their loved one is being unfaithful
- Thinking a TV show or song is talking directly to them
Comfort Keepers® Can Help!
No matter your age, young or old, there are times in your life when you will need to ask for a little extra help, and that's okay! In fact, that’s why your local Comfort Keepers® is here. Our expertly trained caregivers can assist seniors with PD with many of the daily tasks that the disease makes a bit difficult and so much more.
Part of what sets our caregivers apart is more than just their commitment to their senior clients; it is their compassion. Each caregiver is taught our in-home care philosophy called Interactive Caregiving™, which is the idea that seniors are happiest and live their fullest, healthiest lives when they are supported mentally, physically, and socially. At Comfort Keepers®, we encourage our senior clients to work together with their caregiver to plan activities, meals, social calls, and more that they are excited for.
Whether your senior likes spending time sharing stories with family and friends, trying exciting new foods at new restaurants, or even simply relaxing with their favorite music, their caregiver will be there to support them. Our goal is always to provide as much, or little, support as your senior needs without making them feel as though they are a burden or have lost their independence. We’d love to begin helping your loved one make their golden years shine even brighter.
If you’d like to learn more about how our caregivers can support your loved one with Parkinson’s Disease, our full list of in-home care services in Fargo, or if you’d like to schedule your free in-home consultation, please contact us online at any time or call us at (701) 297-2431.
Resources For People With Parkinson’s Disease
- National Parkinson’s Foundation: improves the lives of people with Parkinson’s by improving care and advancing research toward a cure. They build on the energy, experience, and passion of their global Parkinson’s community.
- American Parkinson’s Disease Association (APDA): The American Parkinson’s Disease Association is the largest grassroots network dedicated to fighting Parkinson’s disease and works tirelessly to help the approximately one million people with Parkinson’s live life to the fullest.
- The Michael J. Fox Foundation For Parkinson’s Research: The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson’s today.
- Davis Phinney Foundation For Parkinson’s: This foundation provides essential information, practical tools, and inspiration to people living with Parkinson’s and funds early-phase, innovative research that focuses on exercise, speech, movement, and other factors that affect quality of life. Their goal is to help people with Parkinson’s live well today.
