by Joseph Adsilg
Published Wed, Jun 22nd 2016, 12:32 | Health
Dementia is a debilitating disease that can cause traumatic symptoms. It causes brain changes that can affect a person's life. Dementia can result in hallucinations and delusions which may cause an individual to be frightened. It is important to know that when handling these situations, you remain calm and assess the situation. It is crucial to use a few steps to quickly react to this situation. One must reassure the individual that you are there, respond to the situation, and refocus. Hallucinations and delusions occur but can be handled smoothly if prepared.
What are Hallucinations and Delusions?
Hallucination is seeing or feeling something that isn't there. Senses are used to determine the difference between hallucinations and delusions. Delusion is a false idea. It is more mental. Paranoia results from delusions often times.
Determine the Cause
Hallucinations and dementia can be the results of several health situations. It is important to narrow down the root cause. Dehydration can also cause hallucinations and delusions. Make sure the patient is hydrated to rule out dehydration. Some medicinal reactions may also be a cause. Talk to a doctor to make sure there are no adverse reactions of the patient's medication to produce those results.
How to React
There are several ways to react to a person with hallucinations and delusions. First, it is important to remain calm. Causing extra stress on the hallucination can make it more powerful. Let the person know that they aren't alone. Be there for them until the hallucination or delusion passes. Change the room around to try to eliminate the hallucination or delusion. A shadow from an object may look like something else to the person. Most importantly, be honest. Let the person know what you do not see. Help them to see what is really there. Not all hallucinations or delusions or scary. However, it is still important to move past them.
Refocusing a person onto other activities may help in moving past a hallucination or delusion. A person may forget about the hallucination. Play a game or watch a movie. Read a book, or perform some other activity. Refocusing is one of the biggest steps to help address a hallucination.
Dementia is a terrible disease in which people suffer. When our loved ones become struck with dementia, it is up to us to make sure they In home care lancaster have a less painful and traumatic experience. While medications can be prescribed to help in hallucinatory situations, it takes a loving person to help assess and reconstruct the situations to make it more realistic for the person suffering from the disease. A few simple and helpful tips can make the days of a loved one more comfortable and less scary.