How do you Respond to Hallucinations in Seniors with Dementia?
Did you know that dementia can cause someone to hallucinate? They can see, feel, taste, or hear something that is not there, but to them it is very real. Not all of these hallucinations are scary or bad, sometimes they are pleasant; maybe they see a loved one who passed and are communicating with them again.
No matter what the hallucination may be, do not discredit it; remember, it is very real to them. Validate the hallucination, respond accordingly to their feelings and most importantly, keep them safe.
How should you respond when someone you love is having hallucinations? Let’s see if some of our tips can help you out.
1. Figure out if you need to respond to the hallucination. If it is a pleasant one, you may need not interfere. However, if it is a disturbing hallucination, you may need to intervene and clam them down, or try a different activity to get their mind off of it.
2. Keep explanations about what is happening short. If you give them a long, drawn-out explanation, they won’t understand. Remember, their brain doesn’t work like it used to and they cannot comprehend things anymore. Keep it short and simple.
3. Stay calm and provide reassurance. You must remain calm during the hallucination and don’t argue with them, telling them it is a hallucination and they area imagining it. This will only enrage them. Remember, the hallucination is very real to them and you need to go along with it.
4. Check for triggers. There can be many triggers in the house that can cause hallucinations. If the television or radio is on, this can cause them to believe other people are in the house. If the room is dark and you have a dim light on, this can sometimes make it look like shadows are in the room and can cause fear. Mirrors are not good in the house for someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s (refer to our blog, The Challenges of Mirrors for Someone with Alzheimer’s). Remove all possible triggers.
5. Look for patterns in the hallucinations. Does your loved one hallucinate around the same time each day? Is it when you are watching tv or listening to the news? Is it when you are talking on the phone? Keep a log of when these hallucinations happen to try and figure out what can be triggering them if it not apparent.
6. Have a conversation with them. If they are hearing voices, try chatting with them. They cannot hear the voices if you are speaking to them. If they’re seeing visions, get to their eye level and start chatting, they won’t be able to concentrate on the vision with you in their line of sight.
7. Talk to their doctor. Hallucinations could be a result of a medical condition such as, a head injury, dehydration, a urinary tract infection, or maybe a kidney infection. Seek help immediately if you think the hallucinations could be caused from a medical condition.
8. Get support for yourself. Caring for someone is very stressful, adding the fact that they are having hallucinations increases YOUR stress level. Join an Alzheimer’s caregiver support group. Assisted Living Made Simple holds four such groups a month in Volusia County. PLEASE seek help, you are not alone!
