Carenote from Cheryl

May 14, 2018

10:57 AM

Welcome to CareNotes. In this special section we will feature a reader's letter and provide an opportunity for an interactive exchange that will help find some answers and possible solutions to concerns.

Dad with Alzheimer's

My father is 90 with Alzheimer's disease. I know a lot of you are dealing with this. The problem I’m having right now is that every night around one a.m., my father thinks he is on a boat and wants to pack all his clothes and evacuate. He doesn't want to sleep and doesn't believe me when I tell him he is at home. Can anyone give me a tip or two on how to deal with this, please?

Cheryl

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It's the farm with my dad

I've heard people say that you should make up stories to help with this, but I have the same problem because my dad thinks that the farm his dad owned still has farm equipment and that he has to sell it. He says someone has stolen things. I even took him to see what was left of the farm, but he starts this up all over again. The only thing I know to do, and what the doctor said, is to give him something to make him sleep or maybe an anti- depressant. I don't know what kind of story could be made up to keep someone from thinking they are on a boat! Could you have someone to call on the phone and tell him that evacuation orders have been canceled? Or maybe you could call his home number with your own phone and then act like you are talking to someone and tell him that there will not be an evacuation that night?
I'm wondering if hypnosis would help with these situations?

Sher more than 7 years ago

Carenote from Cheryl

Check with your doctor regarding medications. Is he on a medication for delusions? Would a higher dosage help or is a change of medication needed. If he is on medications for delusion, what time is the medication given, has he become immune to the medication or is it wearing off earlier? One medication that my wife was on did not work but another the doctor prescribed another that worked. If he is on medication, the timing may be important. The potential harm to the patient, as reported in a medical paper I saw, is 1.7% vs 2.3% for the two medications. This turns out to be 6 in 1000 patients. I made a comment on the paper that this is insignificant when compared to not prescribing it because of the harm to the caregiver. Someone agreed with my comment saying it is about quality of life, not quantity ( for the patient.) The medication that works probably affects both for the caregiver.

Wilson Haynes more than 7 years ago