The symptoms of a neurological condition can vary from person to person, with some individuals experiencing issues that others don’t. When it comes to Parkinson’s disease, personality changes are common, disrupting the way older adults respond to family and friends or how they handle daily tasks. Below are some of the personality changes seniors with Parkinson’s could experience and ways for family caregivers to address these issues.
Anxiety
Chemical imbalances in the brain can lead to anxiety for seniors with Parkinson’s. This symptom is usually associated with worry, doubt, and nervousness. Although it’s okay to experience these emotions periodically, it’s not acceptable to experience constant anxiety and stress.
Failing to control the mental and emotional aspects of Parkinson’s could increase your loved one’s risk of depression. You can ease the fear and nervousness by reassuring your loved one, finding positive ways to connect him or her with family and friends, and promoting purposeful activities. Your loved one should continue doing things that lower his or her anxiety and bring him or her joy as the disease progresses.
At some point, your loved one may get a great deal of benefit from having a professional caregiver help with everyday tasks. Families looking for top-rated senior care providers can reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care. From respite care to specialized Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care, there are many ways we can make life easier for seniors and their loved ones.
Hallucinations & Delusions
These symptoms are common in older adults living with Parkinson’s. The hallucinations could cause your loved one to feel, hear, and see things that don’t exist, while delusions lead to false beliefs. Delusions often occur due to fear and worry, and the false beliefs can be dangerous and require immediate action.
Medications are often the cause of these problems, and it might help if you speak to your loved one’s physician about alternative treatment options. Another factor is lack of sleep, which is why your parent needs to get plenty of rest during the night.
Anger
Some seniors with Parkinson’s experience anger and irritability, and these behavioral changes can harm their quality of life and affect their relationships with others. Having impaired motor function could make your parent angry and cause him or her to lash out at you and other family caregivers. Frustration over cognitive issues caused by poor brain function is also common.
Joining a Parkinson’s support group is one way to handle anger issues. The group members can provide a safe space where your loved one can share stories and learn coping strategies to reduce feelings of frustration and anger.
The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can be difficult to handle, and family caregivers can easily get overwhelmed. If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of home care Fremont families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
Apathy
Social, physical, and cognitive stimulation are essential for aging adults. When seniors with Parkinson’s lose interest in events, hobbies, and life in general, apathy could disrupt their treatment plans and lead to other serious health problems.
Doctors typically prescribe medications to treat apathy in adults with Parkinson’s. However, it could also help if you develop a set of structured activities that keep your loved one physically, mentally, and socially active. Select tasks, creative projects, and other things that bring your loved one joy, and try to simplify each activity based on his or her memory, mobility, and cognitive skills.
Many seniors in the later stages of Parkinson’s can continue to live at home, but they’ll most likely need assistance from family members or other caregivers to do so safely. For many seniors in Fremont, live-in care is an essential component of aging in place safely and comfortably. However, it’s important for them to have caregivers they can trust and rely on. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we extensively screen all of our caregivers and only hire those who have experience in the senior home care industry. Our strict requirements ensure seniors can remain in the comfort of home with a reduced risk of injury or serious illness. Whether your parent needs minor help with daily tasks or extensive 24-hour care, give us a call today.