This is my first post.........so hello. I am the primary caregiver for my grandmother who is 87. After a lengthy attempt at diagnosis , we are told she has dementia. I already figured that! Anyway, up until a week ago, she lived alone in a home she has lived in for 30 years (we now have someone come in at night to keep an eye on her).
My grandfather passed away three years ago. Up until 5 months ago, she was coping quite well. Her physical health is quite good - mobile, no major problems. However, five months ago she began having auditory hallucinations, which progressed into visual and auditory hallucinations. Her symptoms would come and go. Her cognitive abilities were only mildly affected. The doctors prescribed seraquil.........disasterous. She is now on rispadryl. Have seen some improvement.
While the hallucinations have greatly decreased, she still has very persistant paranoid delusions about her neighbor trying to harm her. She has a very persistant delusion (I don't think I would call it a hallucination) that she is having a personal relationship with one of her prior doctors. She talks to him constantly and they often make plans for dinner, etc.
A week ago we started having a caregiver stay with her at night because that is when her delusions would become most intense and she once wandered out in the rain (to meet a date), and locked herself out of the house. She is quite irate at the idea of having anyone stay in her home.
She seems to be doing better in the day, more calm. I would like to think she would be OK at night at home alone, but I'm terrified that her delusions or hallucinations may cause her to do something unsafe.........HELP!! any suggestions? I live about 10 minutes from her home.
My grandfather passed away three years ago. Up until 5 months ago, she was coping quite well. Her physical health is quite good - mobile, no major problems. However, five months ago she began having auditory hallucinations, which progressed into visual and auditory hallucinations. Her symptoms would come and go. Her cognitive abilities were only mildly affected. The doctors prescribed seraquil.........disasterous. She is now on rispadryl. Have seen some improvement.
While the hallucinations have greatly decreased, she still has very persistant paranoid delusions about her neighbor trying to harm her. She has a very persistant delusion (I don't think I would call it a hallucination) that she is having a personal relationship with one of her prior doctors. She talks to him constantly and they often make plans for dinner, etc.
A week ago we started having a caregiver stay with her at night because that is when her delusions would become most intense and she once wandered out in the rain (to meet a date), and locked herself out of the house. She is quite irate at the idea of having anyone stay in her home.
She seems to be doing better in the day, more calm. I would like to think she would be OK at night at home alone, but I'm terrified that her delusions or hallucinations may cause her to do something unsafe.........HELP!! any suggestions? I live about 10 minutes from her home.