Shared from myparkinsonsteam.com.
Hallucinations and delusions are symptoms of Parkinson’s disease psychosis. Although motor symptoms like tremors, muscle stiffness, and slowed movements are the hallmark of the condition, between 20 percent and 40 percent of people experience psychosis symptoms, too. Though the terms are often confused, hallucinations and delusions are not the same thing. A person who has hallucinations perceives something that isn’t really there, whereas a person with delusions has persistent, illogical thoughts that are not based in reality. Both of these symptoms can be more challenging to manage than motor symptoms.
If your loved one with Parkinson’s is experiencing hallucinations or delusions, there are a number of interventions that may help. Read on to learn more about medications, changes around the home, and other ways caregivers can manage hallucinations and delusions.