Renata Gelman
Assistant Director of Clinical Services, Partners in Care
Renata Gelman, RN, B.S.N., is assistant director of clinical services at Partners in Care, an affiliate of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY). In this role, she coordinates patient care and manages a multi-disciplinary team of field nursing and home health care professionals in the clinical area of a VNSNY’s private care division.
Show:
Articles Question
Question
How do I care for my mom with dementia when she is seeing people who are not there?
Thank you for your response. If one has concerns about any medications, they should be discussed with the patient’s physician.
Question
How do I care for my mom with dementia when she is seeing people who are not there?
Caregiving for a loved-one with dementia, when one of the persistent symptoms is visualizing people that are not there, is a challenging... Caregiving for a loved-one with dementia, when one of the persistent
symptoms is visualizing people that are not there, is a challenging
task. The first thing that you will want to do is to minimize the
stimulation that is causing hallucinations. Is seeing herself in the
mirror causing her to see images that she mistakes for someone else? Is
she taking new medication that takes time for the body to adjust to?
These are common stimuli that you can help adjust.
In general, it is good to remember to not fight with your loved-one. The
best thing to do is to remove whatever is causing her anxiety and to
calmly and gently reassure her that there is no one there.
Also, I would recommend that she visit a neurologist or psychiatrist to
determine if she can be prescribed an antipsychotic medication such as
Haldol, Risperdal, Seraquel, Thorasine or Zyprexia, which are the most
commonly prescribed drugs of choice to decrease hallucinations. see more
symptoms is visualizing people that are not there, is a challenging
task. The first thing that you will want to do is to minimize the
stimulation that is causing hallucinations. Is seeing herself in the
mirror causing her to see images that she mistakes for someone else? Is
she taking new medication that takes time for the body to adjust to?
These are common stimuli that you can help adjust.
In general, it is good to remember to not fight with your loved-one. The
best thing to do is to remove whatever is causing her anxiety and to
calmly and gently reassure her that there is no one there.
Also, I would recommend that she visit a neurologist or psychiatrist to
determine if she can be prescribed an antipsychotic medication such as
Haldol, Risperdal, Seraquel, Thorasine or Zyprexia, which are the most
commonly prescribed drugs of choice to decrease hallucinations. see more
Question
My mother embellishes every conversation and story. Does she have dementia?
An older person embellishing every conversation and story is not necessarily an indicator or symptom of dementia. However, if your concern... An older person embellishing every conversation and story is not
necessarily an indicator or symptom of dementia. However, if your
concern and the pattern of embellishment persist, it would be wise to
consult a primary care physician. see more
necessarily an indicator or symptom of dementia. However, if your
concern and the pattern of embellishment persist, it would be wise to
consult a primary care physician. see more
How do I know if it's time to move dad into my home or possibly nursing home?
Since your loved one is feeling so fragile from radiation therapy to the point of being unable to push the button on the emergency device and having two episodes where he couldn't move himself, and you're worried that he would be laying there helpless, he needs 24 hour care assistance. Rest assured that there are plenty of resources available to help and alleviate caregiver burnout. Agencies like VNSNY are fully equipped with all necessary resources and have of numerous programs that help the patient while allowing family members to continue working and fulfilling their primary family obligation needs. Programs range from Medicare Service Assistance, to Medicaid long term care (MLTC), to private pay, to hospice care, etc. There are many skilled personnel that are available to help no matter how complex the patient needs may be. But your loved one does need 24 hour care given the circumstances.
Regards,
Renata Gelman, ADON, RN, BSN see more