Learning What Parkinson’s Disease Hallucinations And Delusions Are In Scranton, PA

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a central nervous system disorder that primarily affects seniors age 60 and older. It can begin with a barely noticeable tremor in the hands with symptoms that progress in severity over the course of the disease. 

Most people are aware of the motor symptoms associated with PD, as they’re often very noticeable depending on the severity, but what they may not know about are the non motor symptoms. People with PD can experience non motor symptoms like depression and anxiety, sweating and body aches, and hallucinations or delusions. 

Hallucinations or delusions can be particularly stressful and it is estimated that around 50% of people with PD will experience them during the course of the disease. 

What Causes Parkinson’s Disease Hallucinations And Delusions?

Currently there is no explanation for what causes PD related hallucinations and delusions, or an accurate way to tell who will experience them. There are however, theories. One theory states that they could be a side effect of certain dopamine therapies, while another suggests that they may simply be a natural par of the progression of PD. Risk can factors 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 Are The Signs? 

Due to the fact that hallucinations and delusions can increase in severity it is exceptionally important that people close to a person with PD are aware of the signs. Here are some of the more common signs that someone you love may be experiencing hallucinations or delusions:

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

If left unchecked, a person with PD who suffers from hallucinations or delusions may begin to have difficulty discerning what is actually real vs. not. This can cause inordinate stress for your loved one, as well as potentially increasing the need for assistance outside the home. 

If you believe that your loved one is experiencing hallucinations or delusions associated with PD, always be sure to speak with their PD specialist.  

The Comfort Keepers® Personal Care Difference 

So, you’ve decided that you need a little bit of extra help taking care of your loved one with PD. That okay! This is what your local Comfort Keepers™ is here for! Our caregivers are able to not only provide in home care and assistance, such as providing transportation or helping with housekeeping and bathing, to seniors with PD, they provide Interactive Caregiving™.

Interactive Caregiving™ is our in home care philosophy that states that seniors are happiest and healthiest when they are supported mentally, physically, and socially. Comfort Keepers™ encourages seniors to take an active role in their care plan by working with their caregiver to plan meals, schedules, and activities that they can look forward to. 

From taking a class at the local senior center, to joining a book club, to trying a new recipe, or even simply sharing their wisdom, we want your loved one to do what they love. Our goal is to provide the support your senior needs to spend their golden years enjoying themselves in their home rather than “the home”.

If you’d like to learn more about how Comfort Keepers® can help your loved one with Parkinson’s Disease, our full list of in home care services available in Scranton, or if you’d like to schedule your free in home consultation, please contact us online any time or call us at (570) 307-2273. 

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 to 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.