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How to Help with Hallucinations

Older adults with dementia sometimes suffer from hallucinations. When a senior hallucinate, they sense something that isn’t there.
Hallucinations can involve any sense – seeing, hearing, tasting, feeling, or smelling. They occur because of damage to the brain that causes it to misinterpret senses. Sometimes the hallucinations are frightening for the older adult. Other times, they might be pleasant. They can even be scary to family caregivers who aren’t certain what to do when they occur. Knowing how to respond to your aging relative’s hallucinations can make them less scary for both of you. Below are some tips for dealing with hallucinations.

Homecare in Louisville CO: Help with Hallucinations

Know If You Need to Respond

If the hallucination is pleasant for the senior or isn’t causing them any fear, you may not even need to respond to it. Instead, just know that the hallucination is a symptom of the disease and monitor the older adult for signs it is starting to bother them.

Never Argue

Regardless of what the hallucination is, do not argue with the older adult about what they are sensing. You may not see what they are seeing, but that doesn’t make it any less real to them. Instead of arguing, stay as calm as possible and simply acknowledge what they are experiencing. The damage dementia has caused in their brain makes it impossible for them to reason out the situation, so you won’t be successful in convincing them the hallucination isn’t there.

Try a Distraction

Sometimes distracting the older adult from the hallucination can make it go away. Try involving them in an activity that they like, such as doing a puzzle or making a craft. Or, offer them their favorite snack.

Move to Another Room

When a senior is having a visual hallucination, it can sometimes help to move them to a different room. The hallucination may not “follow,” so it could go away.

“Touch” the Hallucination

In some cases, it can help to ask the senior where the hallucination is and then reach out to “touch” it. Sometimes seeing that your hand doesn’t come in contact with anything allows the senior’s brain to realize the hallucination isn’t there.

Offer Reassurance

Above all else, the best thing you can do for someone who is hallucinating is to reassure them that they are safe. Speak in a gentle, reassuring tone to the senior. A gentle touch can also help.

If your aging relative is prone to hallucinations, an elderly care provider can help to deal with them when family caregivers are not around. An elderly care provider can be a reassuring presence. They can also try to distract the older adult. Elderly care providers may also have techniques for dealing with hallucinations that they’ve learned during their training and experience with other older adults.

If you or an aging loved-one is considering hiring Homecare in Louisville, CO, please contact the caring staff at Touching Hearts at Home today at 303-255-4071.