Tips To Deal With Hallucinations And Delusions In Seniors With Dementia

The most common symptoms of dementia among seniors are delusions and hallucinations. These are primarily caused because of the changes in the brain. When the senior experiences hallucinations and delusions, they tend to see, hear and believe things that are not there in reality.

Compared to the other changes brought about by dementia, no other changes seem as troubling to the family members and caregivers as hallucinations and delusions. It makes seniors talk to someone who isn’t even there. Consequently, you need to help them by convincing them that all that they are thinking is not real.

The family members and caregivers need to learn about proper ways to respond to assist seniors with hallucinations and delusions. Also, don’t forget to share all this with their physician so that they can prescribe the desired medications.

Hallucinations Vs Delusions Among Seniors With Dementia

Usually, people understand these terms as the same and use them interchangeably but in reality, these are quite different. Delusions among seniors are caused by declining memory whereas hallucinations in seniors are what they can feel, smell and taste that do not exist. Among seniors with dementia, delusions are more common than hallucinations.

Both these symptoms tend to become worse if the senior is more prone to sundowning.

Hallucinations

Hallucinations are frightening for both seniors as well as caregivers. Some common instances of hallucinations among seniors include hearing music, seeing bugs, or seeing people that are not even there.

Seniors having Alzheimer’s tend to experience hallucinations during the middle and later stages of the disease. Vascular symptoms are also common symptoms including delusions, depression, apathy, and lack of willpower.

Some leading causes of hallucinations among seniors include hearing loss, poor eyesight, dehydration, medications, and Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs).

Delusions

Delusions do not disrupt the routine life of the seniors but they can be stressful for the others around the seniors. For both seniors as well as their family members and caregivers, paranoid delusions are stressful.

Some common examples of delusions among seniors include fear that their home is being continuously monitored, someone trying to steal their valuables, their spouse cheating on them, and the need to go home when they are already at home.

Tips To Help Seniors With Dementia Experiencing Hallucinations

Convincing the seniors that their hallucinations are unreal can make them react aggressively. Consequently, here are some other ways to help seniors deal with hallucinations caused by dementia.

Show compassion to seniors and tell them that they are safe with you.
Show them that you’ll be physically available for them to help them in need.
Distract seniors by taking them into a different room or from the object that triggered hallucinations among them.
Remove the things that might be causing seniors’ hallucinations.
Avoid doing anything at times.

Tips To Help Seniors Experiencing Delusions

It is the cognitive impairment that results in delusions among seniors. The delusions occur when a senior tries to make sense of a situation but is not able to do it because of memory and confusion problems.

Consequently, here are some ways outlined below to help seniors with delusions.

Do not take the delusions personally and understand that it is nothing else but the senior is feeling scared.
Reassure seniors that you are always there to support them and refrain from asking too many questions.
Make them feel loved instead of trying to convince them.
Distract seniors by giving them their favorite snack or activity which shifts their attention.