We have talked about delusions in the past. Now, the topic is hallucinations. These symptoms are entirely different than delusions. Hallucinations are perceptions of things that are not there. The hallucinations may involve one or more of the senses. They may be auditory hallucinations which mean the person is hearing things that are not there like voices or sounds like children crying. There may be visual hallucinations which mean that the person sees things that are not really there. Any one of the senses that we have may be involved in the hallucinations.
Hallucinations are often seen in significant mental illness like schizophrenia. However, if the senior with dementia has hallucinations, it does not mean that they now have schizophrenia. The hallucinations are only the brain struggling to interpret the stimuli that it is receiving. As with delusions, one should not try to dissuade the person with hallucinations from their experience. Do not attempt to convince them that their hallucinations are not real. They are real to the person who is experiencing them. It is not a conscious decision on their part to turn the hallucinations off and on.
External stimuli may exacerbate the hallucinations. For instance, if the person has auditory hallucinations and the voices are telling them they are going to be murdered, you would not want to have a violent movie on the television.
The person with dementia is in an irrational place. Those of us without dementia are in a rational place. This dissonance can make it difficult for the caregiver to understand the behaviors. Remember that you are the individual who is living with reality. The senior is not able to extinguish between rational and irrational thought.
Is your loved one struggling with hallucinations? Help them keep calm and assure them that they are safe. Contact me for more information about hallucinations in people with dementia.