As Alzheimer's progresses, elders can begin to have hallucinations and delusions. Wandering away from home is also common.
Hallucinations and Delusions
As the disease progresses, an elderly parent with Alzheimer's Disease or dementia may experience hallucinations and/or delusions. Hallucinations are when the person sees, hears, smells, tastes, or feels something that is not there. Delusions are false beliefs from which the person cannot be dissuaded.
- Sometimes hallucinations and delusions are a sign of a physical illness. Keep track of what the person is experiencing and discuss it with the doctor.
- Avoid arguing with the person about what he or she sees or hears. Try to respond to the feelings he or she is expressing, and provide reassurance and comfort.
Try to distract the person to another topic or activity. Sometimes moving to another room or going outside for a walk may help.
- Turn off the television set when violent or disturbing programs are on. The person with AD may not be able to distinguish television programming from reality.
- Make sure the person is safe and does not have access to anything he or she could use to harm anyone.
Mood Swings
Sudden changes in mood and behavior are startling and disturbing. A parent who has a history of gentle behavior, excellent etiquette and intellectual speaking patterns may be horrified to find her mother issuing expletives or making rude and hurtful comments on a daily basis when agitated.
One of the biggest challenges is dealing with outbursts of agitation and aggression. The key is finding out what is causing the outburst.
When dealing with an outburst, remain calm, and understand that the outburst may be caused by frustration or a lack of understanding. Using one command or direction at a time often makes such tasks easier for someone suffering from Alzheimer's to understand.
Dismissing aggression as a normal behavior associated with Alzheimer's doesn't enable the caregiver to fix whatever is causing the outburst. Why do they seem to get upset? What causes it? More on managing outbursts.
Wandering
Keeping your aging parent safe is one of the most important aspects of caregiving. Some people with AD have a tendency to wander away from their home or their caregiver. Knowing what to do to limit wandering can protect a person from becoming lost.
- Make sure that the person carries some kind of identification or wears a medical bracelet.
- Consider enrolling the person in the Alzheimer's Association Safe Return program if the program is available in your area (see "For More Information" to contact the Association). If the person gets lost and is unable to communicate adequately, identification will alert others to the person's medical condition. Notify neighbors and local authorities in advance that the person has a tendency to wander.
- Check with your local police department or EMTs to see if there is a program in your area for tracking and locating wanderers.
- Keep a recent photograph or videotape of the person with AD to assist police if the person becomes lost.
- Keep doors locked. Consider a keyed deadbolt or an additional lock up high or down low on the door. If the person can open a lock because it is familiar, a new latch or lock may help.
- Be sure to secure or put away anything that could cause danger, both inside and outside the house.