Learn About Parkinson’s Disease Hallucinations And Delusions in Greater Alexandria, VA
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a central nervous system disorder that affects movement and is most common in seniors age 60 and older. PD symptoms start gradually and can include both motor and non-motor symptoms.
Most people are familiar with the motor symptoms associated with PD, such as tremors, slowness of movement, or trouble with balance, but it is important to remember that there are non-motor symptoms too. Your loved one may experience things like constipation, insomnia and vivid dreams, or even hallucinations or delusions.
In fact, around 50% of people with PD will experience hallucinations or delusions during the course of the disease.
Give us a call at (855) 335-3155 to learn more!
Hallucinations And Delusions: What Is Happening?
Currently, the exact cause of PD hallucinations and delusions is unknown and there is no reliable way to predict who is going to experience them. One theory says that they could be a side effect of certain dopamine therapies and another supposes that they are just a natural progression of PD. Risk factors can 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
It is extremely important to pay attention to any warning signs that your loved one may be experiencing PDP. Hallucinations can worsen over time, potentially making it harder for the person experiencing them to tell whether or not what they experience is real. This can be stressful and may increase the need for additional assistance in the home.
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 you believe that one of your loved ones is experiencing PDP, the best course of action is to speak with a specialist.
What Can Comfort Keepers® Do For Your Loved One?
We all need a little bit of extra help now and then, and this is where your local, friendly Comfort Keepers® can step in. Our caregivers are compassionate and want to ensure that your loved one is living their golden years to the fullest.
Not only do our caregivers provide crucial in home care services for people with PD, such as transportation to doctor’s appointments, meal planning and preparation, and housekeeping, they provide Interactive Caregiving™. Interactive Caregiving™ is our in home care philosophy that seniors are happiest and healthiest when they are supported mentally, physically, and socially.
Your loved one will be able to take an active role in their care by working with their caregiver come up with delicious meals that they enjoy, scheduling times to spend time with friends and family, planning an exercise routine, if they are able, and so much more. At Comfort Keepers®, our goal is to provide your loved one with everything they need to feel safe, happy, and independent within their own homes, rather than “the home”.
If you’d like to learn more about Parkinson’s Disease hallucinations and delusions, how our caregivers can assist you and your family, or if you’d like to schedule your free care consultation, please contact us online any time or call us at (855) 335-3155.
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.
