I don't want to go, there is no family close by, and he won't take his medications unless I give them to him.
I deny the accusations, but it's like every 2-3 days he will start accusing me again, sometimes I feel that I should sometimes just agree with him?
Have you spoken to his doctor about this?
Is there any possibility he could become violent??
If you watch Teepa Snow videos (she is a therapist who has wonderful insight into dementia patients' thinking) she seems to say that saying something like "you must be so hurt to think that I would betray your trust" .
Can you try that and tell us how it works? Have you talked to his doctor about this? There are meds that might help.
Suspicions and Delusions
A person with Alzheimer's may become suspicious of those around them, even accusing others of theft, infidelity or other improper behavior. While accusations can be hurtful, remember that the disease is causing these behaviors and try not to take offense.
Make sure family members and caregivers understand that suspicions and false accusations are caused by the disease and are not a reflection of them.
Delusions (firmly held beliefs in things that are not real) may occur in middle- to late-stage Alzheimer's. Confusion and memory loss — such as the inability to remember certain people or objects — can contribute to these untrue beliefs. A person with Alzheimer's may believe a family member is stealing his or her possessions or that he or she is being followed by the police. This kind of suspicious delusion is sometimes referred to as paranoia.
Although not grounded in reality, the situation is very real to the person with dementia. Keep in mind that a person with dementia is trying to make sense of his or her world with declining cognitive function.
A delusion is not the same thing as a hallucination. While delusions involve false beliefs, hallucinations are false perceptions of objects or events that are sensory in nature. When individuals with Alzheimer's have a hallucination, they see, hear, smell, taste or even feel something that isn't really there.
See the doctor.
If a person with Alzheimer's is having severe delusions and there is a fear of self-harm or caregiver harm, or if the delusion or hallucination is extremely troubling to the person, it's important to have a medical evaluation to determine if medication is needed.
The first line of treatment for the behavioral symptoms of Alzheimer's is non-drug approaches, but if these strategies fail and symptoms are severe, medication may be appropriate. While antipsychotic medications can be effective in some situations, they are associated with an increased risk of stroke and death in older adults with dementia and must be used carefully. Work with the doctor to learn both the risks and benefits of medication before making a decision.
How to respond
~Don't take offense. Listen to what is troubling the person, and try to understand that reality. Then be reassuring, and let the person know you care.
~Don't argue or try to convince. Allow the individual to express ideas. ~Acknowledge his or her opinions.
~Offer a simple answer. Share your thoughts with the individual, but keep it simple. Don't overwhelm the person with lengthy explanations or reasons.
~Switch the focus to another activity. Engage the individual in an activity, or ask for help with a chore.
~Duplicate any lost items. If the person is often searching for a specific item, have several available. For example, if the individual is always looking for his or her wallet, purchase two of the same kind.
~Share your experience with others. Join ALZConnected, our online support community and message boards, and share what response strategies have worked for you and get more ideas from other caregivers.
Here is a link to that page for further information and direct links to the pages they recommend:
https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/stages-behaviors/suspicions-delusions
Here is a useful video on YouTube from DementiaCareblazers on this very topic with several good tips on how to handle the matter:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBBScwVkoNc
Have you thought about placing him in a Memory Care ALF; is that an option? If he threatens you or raises a hand to you, please call 911 and have him taken to the ER for a psychiatric evaluation.
Best of luck with a difficult situation.
It's time for him to be in a care facility or for live-in help to move in.
Is your husband a Veteran? If so,,,Depending on where and when he served the VA might be a LOT or help or a little.
There are numerous conditions that are liked to chemical exposure and the Veteran did not have to actually be in Vietnam for them to have been exposed. So if he is a Veteran please look into it. Contact your local Veterans Assistance Commission.
LBD is one of the Dementias that can pose a real risk to the caregiver. The tendency for paranoia, hallucinations, delusions and violence are increased. So please take care of yourself.
Do not agree with him but do not argue with him. (If you agree that might lead to violence)
If at any time he begins to get out of control leave the house and call 911. If you can not leave the house take yourself to a room away from him and lock the door..
If you call 911 please tell the dispatcher that you are in fear for your safety. Tell the dispatcher that the person threatening you has Lewy Body Dementia. Tell them that you need him transported to the hospital. Tell them that there are no weapons in the house. (Please remove all weapons, or lock them so he can not get to them. This includes Kitchen knives) When paramedics arrive inform them again that your husband has Lewy Body Dementia. This is important if they are going to give him any drugs.
Now that I have that out of the way....
Contact his doctor. Tell the doctor that there is an increase of accusations. You are getting threatened. There are medications that can help BUT not all medications that are usually given for anxiety are safe for people with LBD.
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