As the caregiver of an elderly loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, you’ve had to learn a lot of things about the disease and how to best care for your loved one. You’ve learned Alzheimer’s home care techniques to help with memory issues, physical struggles, and many aspects of the disease.
One complication some Alzheimer’s patients struggle with is hallucinations and delusions, and it can seem daunting to know how to help your loved one through an episode.
What Does Hallucinations and Delusions Look Like for Alzheimer’s Patients?
Delusions and hallucinations are similar but different. They are brought on by the damage the brain sustains during the progression of the disease. Both delusions and hallucinations are based on your loved one’s belief in something that is untrue but seems very true to them at the moment. They may be so wild and fantastical that you’ll struggle to believe that they could believe it to be true, but for them, it feels as real as the ground they stand on.
Delusions occur when your loved one has false beliefs about something untrue. A delusion could involve the belief that someone is in imminent danger or that their loved one is still alive. During a hallucination, your elderly loved one may hear, see, feel, or smell something that isn’t there. She might see someone in the room who isn’t there, or she might smell smoke and believe there is a fire.
Four Tips for Navigating a Delusion or Hallucination with Your Loved One
Tip #1 – Change Locations
Sometimes, a hallucination can be directly linked to an area that the person is in. They may be triggered by an image in that location or a sound that reminds them of something else, thus starting a hallucination or delusion. Gently lead them away from the area while talking in a calm voice to see if it stops once you have left the room.
Tip #2 -Distraction
Distracting their attention to something different may be all they need to end their distress. You might ask your loved one to help you find a photo in a photo album or come with you to enjoy a sweet treat out on the porch. If you can distract them with a favorite pastime, it’ll be easier to help them leave the delusion or hallucination behind.
Tip #3 -Don’t Argue
Telling them they are wrong and it isn’t true can often aggravate your loved one when she’s hallucinating. Instead, if it is unpleasant, acknowledge what she thinks she sees and then suggest that maybe if you do something different or go somewhere different, it’ll go away. Be calm and kind and reassure her that she’ll be okay.
Tip #4 – Check In
Check to see if your loved one has any physical needs, such as whether she’s thirsty, hungry, or needs to use the bathroom. Conditions such as dehydration, constipation, and infection can lead to delirium, a cause of hallucinations.
Skilled Alzheimer’s Home Care Can Help
Because talking to someone who is having a hallucination or delusion can be unsettling for someone not trained in providing Alzheimer’s home care, it’s always recommended that if you seek help with Alzheimer’s home care, look for someone who is a professional Alzheimer’s home care provider. With their skill and training, they can assist with many aspects of the disease in kind, caring, and helpful ways.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Alzheimer’s Home Care in Bonita, CA, please contact the caring staff at A Caring Touch Home Care today. Call (619) 344-0528
A Caring Touch Home Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency providing exceptional home care in Coronado, Del Mar/Del Mar Heights, Bonita, East Lake, La Jolla, Torrey Pines, Mt. Helix/La Mesa, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Carmel Ranch, Rancho Penasquitos, Point Loma, Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego and surrounding areas.
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