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?
Sleep pattern alterations can and do happen in any progressive brain disorder - Parkinsons, dementia, Alzheimer's dementia, metabolic encephalopathy, etc.
Paranoid delusions and violent behavior to stop the person who is trying to kill you are a feature of Lewy body dementia. Much different than ordinary dreams. Diseased brains do not respond to any medications predictably. In Lewy body, medications usually exacerbate symptoms and increase agitation/anger.
A person needs to be kept safe at all times. This incident is very likely a trigger for residential care.
One spouse cannot manage care alone, no matter how willing. Home caregivers will not accept being hit/cursed/having body waste thrown at them, etc. I have seen all of these patient behaviors (and learned quickly to be quiet, calm, and ready to step out of the room at any moment.)
Caregivers do die from the burden, and it would be horrific for her family to find that she has died while alone with him. It does happen.
Of course, it is no excusable and at least serious evaluation is needed by neurologist.
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.