Caregiver Techniques for Coping with Delusions
Alzheimer's disease is a process of neural degeneration. As memory fails it is not uncommon for people with Alzheimer's to become suspicious of what is going on around them. A delusion can be thought of as a false belief that, even in the light of contradictory evidence, remains fixed. This is distressing for both the sufferer and their caregiver as delusions can lead to any number of false accusations.
The most common delusions are persecutory in nature. Beliefs about food or drinks being poisoned, being spied on, or things being stolen are typical. The person may believe their partner is having an affair. They may believe they are being held captive in someone's else's house. Some relatives find it very distressing when they are accused of being an imposter.
Coping With Delusions
Distraction Techniques:
The nature of delusions and the way you cope with them will vary from person to person and also need to be adapted to the stage of Alzheimer's. It can also be useful to get ideas from healthcare professionals or your Alzheimer's Chapter or support group.
