Hallucinations and delusions are common in people with dementia. False impressions are characterized as hallucinations and to the person who is experiencing them, they are extremely real. Delusions, on the other hand, are firmly held fixed ideas or attitudes that are not founded on evidence. It doesn’t matter if the incorrect ideas and attitudes are about people or objects. When we recognize these symptoms and learn how to handle them as caretakers, we can effectively respond. Read on for more deets on hallucinations and delusions in dementia sufferers.
Don’t Argue
You can nearly never persuade someone with dementia to change their mind or admit that they are mistaken. If a member of your family suspects that someone has meddled with the lock, tell them you will check or change to a new one if necessary.
Set Routines
The less a person’s daily activities vary, the less prone they are to deviate from the real world. If the individual lives in a retirement community, make every effort to ensure that the team members and other caretakers are the same ones scheduled for duty regularly.
Switch Things Up
Make tweaks according to mom or dad’s imagination. If they saw intruders peering through their glass window on the outside, reassure them that the window is secured or cover them with blinds or drapes. Reorganize furnishings, attach night lights, and make whatever other modifications you can to stop hallucinations from happening.
Drug Treatments
Drugs can sometimes assist persons with dementia to regulate delusions or hallucinations, and they can also aid with mistaken identity syndromes. Many of the antipsychotic drugs used to treat these problems, unfortunately, include adverse effects such as stiffening, unsteadiness, and sleepiness. Although newly developed antipsychotic medications have fewer complications, they still have the potential to cause lethargy. But when delusions and hallucinations are presenting a serious issue, medication treatment may be necessary.
Speak to an Expert
Arrange a time for mom or dad to visit their doctor if they have hallucinations frequently. As new drugs or the mix of their prescriptions might create hallucinations, ensure the individual gets regular medication evaluations with a pharmacist or physician.
It will be helpful to bring specifics of what the individual saw or experienced, where it occurred, and how long it lasted when visiting a doctor for treatment. Key data of the person’s medical record, such as any prior ailments, psychological issues, and long-term health concerns will also be useful.
Don’t Take Offense
Individuals struggling from dementia may develop suspicions about everyone else around them, suspecting them of stealing, adultery, or other wrongdoing. They may assume that a family member is taking their belongings or that the authorities are watching them. Paranoia is a term used to describe this type of suspicious illusion.
The situation is extremely realistic to the person with dementia, although it is not anchored in reality. While accusations might be unpleasant, keep in mind that these actions are caused by the condition, and try not to take offense.
While cognitive decline is a common aspect of dementia, symptoms like hallucinations and delusions can catch many families off by surprise. However, if you know how to deal with it, you will be in a better position to help mom or dad cope.
