Men and women with Parkinson's disease – particularly those with advanced Parkinson's disease – are at risk of suffering from psychosis, or a loss of touch with reality. In fact, reports show that up to 60 percent of individuals with Parkinson's eventually develop some level of psychosis.
Although the disease is a movement disorder, neuropsychiatric disorders often are a complication. Psychosis is more common in individuals who are suffering from cognitive decline or are on medications to treat their motor problems. Even so, if you are a home health caregiver, such as with Neighbors Home Care Services, who works with individuals with Parkinson's disease, there are steps you can take to help manage psychotic episodes when they occur.
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Identify the warning signs. Some individuals experience early warning signs before the symptoms of an impending psychotic episode develop. Pay attention when a client seems anxious or depressed. A client also may complain about feeling somehow different or of racing or slowed thoughts.
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Learn to recognize the symptoms of psychotic behaviors. An individual may experience auditory or visual benign hallucinations that are described as simple misperceptions, such as sensing that someone is present nearby when there is no one there. Depending on the severity of a client's symptoms, the person may experience severe hallucinations that can lead to delusions and psychosis. In cases where a client is experiencing a severe psychotic episode, his or her neurologist may recommend administering an anti-anxiety medication to help alleviate psychosis symptoms.
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Watch how you react to anything a client says. No matter what a client says he or she sees or hears, don't tell the person that he or she is being foolish. Instead, simply point out that he or she may be mistaken and then try to get the client talking about something else.
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Be emotionally supportive of the client at all times. Avoid becoming confrontational with the client. Don't try to convince the person that the things he or she is seeing or hearing aren't real. Focus on reassuring the client that he or she is safe and everything will be okay. Since there may be times when a client is frightened or confused by his or her hallucinations or delusions, it's important for you to remain calm and do all you can to help soothe the person. Showing understanding is an important way of offering support.
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Engage the client. When you talk, use familiar phrases that are less likely to confuse the person. Always speak clearly and make sure the client understands what you are saying. Talk about something that interests the client.
When caring for a person with Parkinson's disease, listen closely to what he or she says. Remain patient whenever asking for a reply, giving the client more time to respond. Show that you care by respecting his or her feelings.
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Keep the client's home well lit, particularly at night. Individuals often experience more hallucinations late at night or very early in the morning. This may be due, in part, to the fact that there is less environmental stimulation at that time and the client is alone in a quiet bedroom. Shadows in the darkness also create an atmosphere that can contribute to seeing things that aren't there.
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Call 911 for help. Sometimes when a client has a severe psychotic episode, he or she may become aggressive or violent toward you and others. If the person is involved in actions that could result in self-injury or cause serious injury to others, it's time to get assistance.
