Treatment for dementia-related psychosis is different for everyone. One thing is certain, however: as a caregiver, you play a major role in the care plan of your loved ones. With your help, they can have a better quality of life for as long as possible.
Monitor their behavior
Your loved one might act in strange ways. Your behavior could be harmless.
For example, people with dementia often think they are away from home. James Lai, MD, assistant director of clinical affairs for geriatrics at Yale School of Medicine, says people with dementia might even go to their room to collect some things. If they just want to pack and unpack a bag, he says that’s fine. You can even help.
“As long as this [delusions] You are not stressful, you can participate, ”says Lai. “If you keep telling them what they are doing is not right, or if you try to remind them that they are not going to this place, you will see that it creates more stress and anxiety.”
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It is not always possible to reassure your loved one on your own. You might get really upset or pushy.
“This is where you want to involve your doctor,” says Lai.
But symptoms of psychosis aren’t always scary to the people who have them. Christopher van Dyck, MD, director of the Alzheimer’s research division at Yale School of Medicine, says those with Lewy body dementia often see animals or people who are not actually there. But these beings tend not to be threatening and even comforting.
“The person who has [the hallucination] can live very happily with extra dogs in the house, ”he says.
Look out for warning signs
It is not always easy to tell whether your loved one is having a delusion or a hallucination. You might not know yourself. Lai says to watch for signs as if they:
- Move things
- Getting angry or aggressive in certain situations
- Are afraid to go into a room
- Avoid certain people or places
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And sometimes psychosis can be a sign of other medical problems, Lai says. This is especially true if symptoms appear out of the blue. Your loved one may not be able to tell you that they are not feeling well.
He says you should call the doctor if you notice:
- Sudden changes in behavior, mood, or personality
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Periods of stare
- Lots of falls
- Serious sadness or bad mood
- Sleep a lot more than usual
Work with their doctor
You can help your loved ones get to their visits on time. And you can make sure they have their hearing, eyesight, or general health checked. But that’s not your only role. Arman Fesharaki-Zadeh, MD, behavioral neurologist and neuropsychiatrist at Yale Medicine, says caregivers are an important source of “objective session-to-session updates.”
He suggests that you should keep an eye on things like:
- When do the symptoms appear?
- Do they appear around sunset?
- Are they happening around a change?
- Does a new person cause it?
- Does your loved one really get anxious and anxious in certain situations?
Write down any information you have and bring it to the next appointment. Fesharaki-Zadeh says this will help you and your doctor look for patterns that could make your loved one’s dementia-related psychosis worse. You may be able to relieve some symptoms if you can find certain triggers and avoid them.
Carry out the treatment plan
Your loved ones may need medication for dementia or other health problems. You have to make sure that they are taking it right.
If possible, Lai suggests that you give them a role in their treatment routine. For example, put medication in a machine that will spit out the medication when you press a button.
“Giving some kind of control back is usually a good thing,” he says. “Even if it’s small.”
Carolyn Fredericks, MD, a neurologist who treats people with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders at Yale Medicine, says medications are unlikely to eradicate delusions. But it can help reduce symptoms that make the psychosis worse, such as restlessness or confusion.
Some of these drugs come in patch form, she says, “which can be helpful if the person is suspicious and doesn’t want to take pills.”
Get support for yourself
Caring for someone with dementia is hard work. You might feel like the only one who can or should do this. But that makes it more likely that you will get burnout with the caregiver. It is a state of physical fatigue or mental exhaustion. This can lead to medical problems for you, which can include anxiety and depression. This can affect the quality of the care you give your loved ones.
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“Even the best caregiver in the world needs rest and self-care,” says Fredericks. “This is how you become a good caregiver by giving yourself the chance to get well.”
You can get additional help in many ways. Ask your doctor about:
- Domestic help
- Senior centers
- Day care for adults
- Long-term residential facilities
Fesharaki-Zadeh suggests that caregivers reach out to groups like the Alzheimer’s Association. You will find access to a large network of dementia support.
“These are people who are in the trenches dealing with these issues,” he says. “They can be very helpful and very therapeutic.”
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