Learn About Parkinson’s Disease Hallucinations And Delusions In Selinsgrove, PA

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a central nervous system disorder that is commonly characterized by motor symptoms, such as tremors or trouble with balance. What many people may not realize, however, is that there are a number of non motor symptoms associated with PD as well, with hallucinations or delusions being two highly common ones. 

In fact, it is estimated that around 50% of people with PD will experience hallucinations or delusions at some point during the course of the disease.  

What Is Happening?

While there is no way to reliably predict who is going to experience hallucinations or delusions, there are a couple theories about why people with PD experience them in the first place. One states that they could be a side effect of certain dopamine therapies, while another supposes that they are simply a natural progression of the disease. Risk 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 To Look For 

There are signs that a person with PD is experiencing hallucinations or delusions that you and your loved one can be aware of: 

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

Due to the fact that hallucinations and delusions can increase in severity over time, it is extremely important to pay attention to any warning signs. If left unchecked hallucinations or delusions can cause anxiety and unnecessary stress for people with PD. 

If you believe your loved one is experiencing hallucinations or delusions, be sure to contact their PD specialist.

What Can Comfort Keepers® Do For Your Loved One?

So you’ve decided that you need to find in home care for your loved one with PD and that’s okay! We all need a little bit of help sometimes, which is where your local Comfort Keepers® can step in.

Our caregivers provide more than just assistance with tasks such as housekeeping, bathing, and transportation that people with PD may have difficulty with. They provide Interactive Caregiving™, or our in home care philosophy that states that seniors are happiest and healthiest when they are supported mentally, physically, and socially. Our caregivers work with their seniors to create meal plans, exercise routines, and so much more that your loved one can look forward to.

Whether your senior is a fan of spending time with family and friends, taking classes at the local senior center, or simply enjoys spending time watching their favourite TV programs, we will be there for them. Our goal is to provide as much, or little, assistance as your loved one needs without making them feel as though they are a burden or have lost their independence. Let us begin helping your senior spend their golden years doing more than just viewing. 

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 Selinsgrove, or if you’d like to schedule your free in home consultation, please contact us online any time or call us at (570) 884-8040.

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.