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I. How We Work in Washington. Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services. APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
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Mostly Independent
Your loved one may not require home care or assisted living services at this time. However, continue to monitor their condition for changes and consider occasional in-home care services for help as needed.
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Hi, there. I am a nurse and used to work in psychiatry. Hallucinations are always caused by a disturbance in brain chemistry. The causes can be multiple - high fever, sleep deprivation, dehydration, brain tumors, stroke, reaction to medications, dementia, and imbalance of brain neurotransmitters. In fact, hallucinations not caused by physical things are nearly always related to neurotransmitter disturbance.
Anyone can develop hallucinations at any time, at any age. You did not say what your mother's age was. However, in an elderly person, I would suspect that hallucinations would be most likely caused by:
If it's caused by dementia, there's not much that can be done. If it's schizophrenia, it can be controlled with medication. If it's a med reaction, the solution is to stop or switch that medication.
Hallucinations are sensory experiences that seem real to people with Alzheimer's, yet they are not really happening. They see, hear, smell, taste or feel something that isn't there. And because hallucinations seem so real to them,I think it is not helpful to try to convince them that they are imagining things.No one wants to spend valuable time arguing with a loved one with Alzheimer's. Instead, acknowledge her feelings, try to reassure her that you are there to help, and redirect her to a pleasant activity. If she is easily reassured and the hallucinations aren't particularly upsetting, this is usually enough and the incident is forgotten.And sometimes hallucinations can be quite disruptive, in this case certain medications can be used, but they do have side effects and aren't always effective, so it's always best to try reassurance and distraction first.
Speaking as an R.N. here.....hallucinations are NEVER normal. Yes, they can be caused by pernicious anemia, sleep deprivation, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's, or any other host of physiological ailments. However, it is possible that she has developed some kind of "late-onset" schizophrenia variant related to the general deterioration of the brain and less efficient neurotransmitter activity of advanced age. The nature and pattern of her hallucinations reminds me a lot of the ones I used to see in my former psychiatric patients. If it were my elderly parent, I might consider trying a pediatric-dose of an antipsychotic medication to see if it would reduce the frequency or intensity of the hallucinations. Meanwhile, I would suggest keeping a journal of her symptoms......a daily log noting what was eaten, or any unusual events that occurred just prior to the onset of the hallucinations. There may be a "pattern" to them that will point towards their etiology.
Thank you and happy holidays Dragonflower. She does take Zypreza, which does seem to help greatly. However, when she does not achieve enough sleep during the night, nothing stops the hallucinations. Right now, I am grateful for the combination, so "I" can sleep :) .
In response to Grace48, after MANY sleepless nights and frustrating days, I have come to embrace the fact that it is all part of her dementia. Some days are good and some not so good. What I have found is that sleep is absolutely VITAL. The lack of triggers her paranoia, hearing voices, singing, noises, people talking about and threatening to harm her. So, I do all that I can to ensure she gets a good night's rest, which "could" entail 12 to 14 hours. Every day brings something new, but it certainly beats the alternative.
My father is 90 and lives with me. At night he hears people jumping my fence and they talk outside his bedroom, bang on the walls and keep him awake at night. Although he says he has seen them, I've been able to narrow down that he only hears them only at night. Sometimes I hear him walk outside. According to him when they see him they quiet down. I love that he's here with me but I have a difficult time with his stories about these people, because I know he's hallucinating. He's otherwise so intelligent and can do so much, and does help me around the house with repairs. He thinks these people sleep in my neighbors back yards. He's very healthy just losing his hearing. I welcome advice.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
Anyone can develop hallucinations at any time, at any age. You did not say what your mother's age was. However, in an elderly person, I would suspect that hallucinations would be most likely caused by:
1. Dementia.
2. Late-onset schizophrenia.
3. Unusual reaction/intolerance to prescription medications.
If it's caused by dementia, there's not much that can be done. If it's schizophrenia, it can be controlled with medication. If it's a med reaction, the solution is to stop or switch that medication.
Hope that helps.
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