What Are Hallucinations in a Senior with Alzheimer’s Disease?
Home Care in Grand Rapids MI
When most people think about Alzheimer’s disease their first thoughts are about memory loss and diminished cognitive capacity. As a family caregiver it is important that you understand these are
not the only symptoms and to be aware of potential other symptoms so that you can recognize them when they occur and give your parent the level of care that they need and deserve to deal with them. One such symptom is hallucinations. Not one of the symptoms that many people think of immediately when it comes to the effects of Alzheimer’s disease, hallucinations can be upsetting both for your elderly loved one and for you as their caregiver. Understanding what they are and how they impact your parent can help you to give your senior the care and support that they need to manage them effectively.
Hallucinations are false sensory perceptions. This means that your aging parent might smell, taste, see, hear, or feel something that is not perceived by anyone else. These experiences are very real to your senior and can impact their behaviors, sense of security, and well-being. Hallucinations can be caused by a variety of factors, but when they occur in Alzheimer’s disease it is generally due to the actual changes in the brain that occur as the disease progresses. The chances of your parent experiencing hallucinations increases as they move further into the stages of the disease and they are most likely to occur during the later stages.
As with any other new symptoms that might arise in Alzheimer’s disease, it is important to bring the presence of hallucinations to the attention of your aging parent’s doctor. This allows them to evaluate your parent and ensure that they are getting the care that they need as they progress through the disease.
If your aging parent is coping with Alzheimer’s disease, starting home care for them can be one of the most beneficial, compassionate, and nurturing decisions that you can make. Far from being a way that you can distance yourself from your parent’s care or a demonstration that you do not care if your parent gets what they need as they age in place, hiring an in-home senior care services provider is a highly effective way to help your parent achieve and maintain their highest quality of life as they age in place. The personalized services of a care provider mean that you can delegate specific tasks to them and focus your time, energy, and effort on other aspects of your parent’s care, or that you can know that when you are not able to be with them on a daily basis they are still in the best hands. As they progress through the disease this care provider can ensure that they stay as safe, healthy, and comfortable as possible while maintaining their mental, emotional, and cognitive well-being as much as they can. When it comes to difficult symptoms such as hallucinations, the services of a care provider can be invaluable to help your loved one get through them and stay safe.
If you or someone you know needs help with home care in Grand Rapids, MI, contact Gauthier Family Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care services in our community. Call us at (616) 258-2300 for more information.
Source: http://www.alz.org/care/alzheimers-dementia-hallucinations.asp
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