My brother with Parkinson’s Disease is cared for by his devoted wife. He has had 3 serious issues lately. He ran out into the hall of their building and pulled the fire alarm.
Next he got on top of his wife while she slept, held her down and was punching her.
Then, the other night, she attempted to block his exit to the hallway in the middle of the night and he started beating her with a brass candlestick.
They do not seem to be getting proper advice from MD’s. We are truly afraid he could kill her.
What insights does anyone have with this?
And the next time he so much as raises a hand to her, she needs to call 911 and have him brought to ER. Once there, she MUST tell the hospital social worker that she can no longer care for him at home and then it will be up to the social worker to find placement for him.
Safety for both your brother and his wife must now be top priority.
This is an emergency: your sister in law needs to give them a really clear account, ideally with visual recordings, of what is happening.
She mustn't stand in his way. If something else like that happens and she is afraid for his or anyone else's safety, she must call the emergency services.
1. Movement Disorder Specialist. A neurologist with more training and experience caring for PD patients.
2. Sleep Disorder Specialist. Often also internist and/or pulmonologist.
3. Neuro-Psychologist. Neuro-psych testing can help differentiate between Parkinson’s Psychosis/Dementia, REM Sleep Disorder, Lewy Body Dementia, Alzheimer’s, Vascular Dementia. Each one has different tendencies. Several here have thrown these terms around but only a professional can make those diagnoses.
5. Certified Geriatric Pharmacy Consultant. As we age, our bodies have a different tolerance level for certain meds. A change in medication sometimes can change everything… for good or bad!
My husband has been through so many ups and downs over the last 34+ years diagnosed with young onset PD at age 40. Each of these specialists have given me so much clarity as to what we were dealing with as the PD progressed. When it comes to PD, there is so much misinformation even among health professionals. PD is such a misunderstood disease because it can affect each person differently so the treatment has to be customized for the best results.
Medicine management and limiting what my husband is exposed to in the daytime really helps us. He loves military history so he enjoys reading and watching tv programs/movies that included wars etc. So at night when he acted out his dreams, he was fighting wars and he saw me as the enemy. His eyes were wide open but he rarely remembered anything.
If they do not have one, have them order the Aware in Care kit from The Parkinson’s Foundation. Should he go to any facility, (even ER) he needs someone to advocate for him to try and keep his meds straight and on time. This kit can be a huge help.
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2. Get a new doc. There are brain/personality changes going on. He needs his meds changed immediately. If the other doc won't do anything, get another doc. He/she is not the one being attacked.
He might have to go to a psych ward until they can find the right med combination. Do not come up with excuses why this shouldn't happen. He could kill her since he has beaten her 2x. Do not wait for a 3rd time.
3. Find a geriatric and Parkinson's psychiatrist who can help prescribe meds. I'd get on this immediately. If I have to get a phone book and go down the list and it took me 5 hours.
Tare him immediately to the hospital and tell them he is a danger to others and get him help. I don't know if she can get him in the car. She could call the non emergency police number and ask for help getting him there.
Call the cops and have him Baker Acted, or 5150 in California. Do not take him back at discharge. It’s beyond happiness now. The whole idea is to keep everyone safe and him not ending his days locked up for homicide.
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