Many people living with Parkinson’s will experience some form of hallucinations or delusions during their Parkinson’s journey. A hallucination is seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting or feeling something that isn’t there, and a delusion is a false thought, worry or belief that is not based on reality or fact. These symptoms usually occur in later stages of Parkinson’s but can happen at any stage. Discussing them can be difficult but it’s important to know that they are common symptoms and should be discussed with your care team – just like you would discuss tremors or stiffness. People who experience hallucinations and delusions can live well with Parkinson’s, and talking about it together is the first step. 

We invite you to join our webinar on Wednesday, January 15 from 2:00 to 3:00 PM Eastern Time as Dr. Alison Dixon discusses causes, triggers and management & communication strategies for hallucinations and delusions. We will also explore how Parkinson’s psychosis can impact the mental health of both the person with Parkinson’s and their care partner, potentially leading to withdrawal from support networks and, for some, affecting whether and how they seek medical care. We will also hear from Nini Huang, who will discuss the challenges of caring for two parents living with Parkinson’s and her mother’s episodes of delusions, and management strategies they use to stay safe and connected as a family. 

Presenters

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  Dr. Alison Dixon, MD, FRCPC

  Geriatrician, NS Health; Assistant Professor, Dalhousie University  

  Dr. Alison Dixon is a Geriatrician and Assistant Professor in the Division of Geriatric Medicine at Dalhousie University in Halifax. Originally from Cape Breton, she completed medical school, internal medicine residency and subspecialty training in geriatric medicine at Dalhousie University. Before medicine, she was a journalist and worked for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. She is the Communication Skills Lead for Postgraduate Medical Education at Dalhousie University.  

   Her clinical focus is movement disorders in older adults, in particular Parkinson Disease. Her passion is a comprehensive patient and family-centered approach to helping older adults live well with Parkinson's disease and other parkinsonian syndromes at every age and stage 

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  Nini Huang

  Nini Huang lives in Toronto, Ontario. She retired early in her career to be a stay-at-home mom, a decision that she found deeply rewarding. As her children grew older, both of her parents began experiencing health issues, prompting Nini to shift her focus to their care. 

   Both of Nini's parents live with Parkinson’s disease, and her mother experiences episodes of delusions. Nini finds the role of caregiver increasingly challenging, both emotionally and physically, but remains committed to caring for her parents to the best of her ability. 

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