Please watch all the Teepa Snow Videos you can, and read all you can about dementia, so you understand that yes, delusions and paranoia and wrong "ideas" are all a part of it. My best out to you. Join a Facebook group if you are so inclined; there are many supportive groups dealing with issues of dementia. Also consider going online at Alz.org for informational support.
Paranoia is a feature of dementia. Or, it could be a delusion. Only certain types of dementia include hallucinations (like Lewy Body dementia). A delusion is an untrue persistent thought someone has and a hallucination is when someone thinks they've actually seen something, so a subtle difference.
If this is suddenly odd behavior for her, please consider taking her to Urgent Care or the ER (or call 911 if she won't cooperate). Tell the EMTs only that you suspect she has a UTI due to her behavioral changes and needs to be taken there and doesn't want to go. If you tell them you think she has dementia, they will probably not do anything, since there's nothing that they can do about it (you can't cure dementia and it's not a life-threatening emergency) and that diagnosis requires more testing. A UTI can be life-threatening since it can result in sepsis.
Or a urinary tract infection (UTI) can cause one to hallucinate or have dementia like symptoms. ‘Remember that if it is real to her she won’t be convinced otherwise. Watch for other symptoms. If this is sudden or unusual for her it would be good to have her checked for a UTI as this type infection can be toxic.
Yes. Hallucinations and paranoia and delusions are quite common. Do consider educating yourself as much as you are able. Teepa Snow's videos are a good place to start.
My husband, who has dementia, suddenly started having hallucinations. His specialist suspected a UTI and prescribed antibiotics which eliminated the hallucinations.
It can be. You say your grandma has been diagnosed with dementia. Paranoia can go hand in hand with with dementia. So can hallucinations, anxiety and sometimes anger and possibly violent outbursts. Some forms of dementia are more prone to outbursts, anger than others. For this reason it is important to know exactly what type of dementia she has. If it EVER becomes dangerous for your child or children then you may have to consider placing grandma in Memory Care as it may not be safe to keep her home.
You can tell grandma that your son's food is safe. If it helps you can have her open jars or serve the food. Make sure that it is safe for her to do so and she washes her hands before handling food. Sometimes with dementia they do not wash hands after using the bathroom and other hygiene practices are not great. If this does not help you just have to keep telling her that the food is safe.
If this is suddenly odd behavior for her, please consider taking her to Urgent Care or the ER (or call 911 if she won't cooperate). Tell the EMTs only that you suspect she has a UTI due to her behavioral changes and needs to be taken there and doesn't want to go. If you tell them you think she has dementia, they will probably not do anything, since there's nothing that they can do about it (you can't cure dementia and it's not a life-threatening emergency) and that diagnosis requires more testing. A UTI can be life-threatening since it can result in sepsis.
‘Remember that if it is real to her she won’t be convinced otherwise. Watch for other symptoms. If this is sudden or unusual for her it would be good to have her checked for a UTI as this type infection can be toxic.
Do consider educating yourself as much as you are able.
Teepa Snow's videos are a good place to start.
You say your grandma has been diagnosed with dementia.
Paranoia can go hand in hand with with dementia.
So can hallucinations, anxiety and sometimes anger and possibly violent outbursts. Some forms of dementia are more prone to outbursts, anger than others. For this reason it is important to know exactly what type of dementia she has.
If it EVER becomes dangerous for your child or children then you may have to consider placing grandma in Memory Care as it may not be safe to keep her home.
You can tell grandma that your son's food is safe.
If it helps you can have her open jars or serve the food.
Make sure that it is safe for her to do so and she washes her hands before handling food. Sometimes with dementia they do not wash hands after using the bathroom and other hygiene practices are not great. If this does not help you just have to keep telling her that the food is safe.
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