Hallucinations can be a distressing experience, both for seniors who experience them and the caregivers supporting them. They can be a troublesome situation that needs to be approached with care. But by understanding hallucinations—and the common root causes behind them—caregivers can learn how to help a loved one experiencing a hallucination and take preventative measures to improve their quality of life.
Usually, hallucinations develop due to cognitive decline, dementia, and mental disorders. However, there are some situations when they can develop as a side effect of medication, alcohol, or other substances.
What Are Hallucinations?
To put it simply, a hallucination is an experience where a person senses something that isn’t actually there. To everybody else, the situation often appears normal, but the person experiencing a hallucination is witnessing a vivid and real situation. It’s as if your senses are lying to you about what they’re perceiving, which can cause a rippling effect of issues.
Experiencing a hallucination can be extremely troubling. It can be hard to distinguish what is real and what isn’t, leading to confusion, fear, and anxiety. This becomes much more problematic when cognitive decline is included in the situation—either from Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or the result of another condition.
The Different Types of Hallucinations
There are several types of hallucinations:
- Visual hallucinations, where a person either sees something that doesn’t exist or perceives an existing situation as something else
- Auditory hallucinations, where a person hears something that isn’t there
- Olfactory hallucinations, where a person smells something that doesn’t exist
- Tactile hallucinations, where a person feels that they’re being touched by something nonexistent
- Gustatory hallucinations, where a person tastes something that isn’t there
- Somatic hallucinations, where a person experiences the sensation of bodily harm
Each of these can be problematic, and some can occur simultaneously. So what causes these hallucinations to develop in the first place?
What Causes Hallucinations?
When it comes to hallucinations, it’s crucial to understand that these can be extremely complicated conditions. Hallucinations develop due to a problem in the brain—and the human brain is far from simple.
Typically, hallucinations develop due to one or more of the following factors:
- Medication: Antidepressants, anti-psychotics, and anti-seizure medications can sometimes cause hallucinations.
- Sleep disorders: A lack of sleep can lead to hallucinations, as the body can’t properly recover and heal.
- Substance use: Alcohol and other substances can easily cause problems within the brain.
However, for seniors, there is a common cause that can quickly lead to hallucinations—neurodegeneration. Conditions like dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s can cause significant problems throughout the brain, often leading to the death of brain cells. This can affect a person’s senses, often leading to hallucinations.
How to Tell if Someone Is Hallucinating
Learning to recognize the signs of a hallucination is key; it lets you intervene and help your loved one. Remember—these can be complicated and should be addressed with care.
Look for:
- Changes in behavior or mood that seem unusual or erratic
- Talking to people who aren’t there or reacting to things unseen by others
- Confusion or agitation without an apparent cause
- Describing vivid experiences that are clearly not happening
- Reacting to unseen stimuli
If your loved one showcases any of these signs, they may be dealing with a hallucination.
Tips for Helping Someone During a Hallucination
It’s crucial to approach the situation with empathy and calmness. Don’t panic or overreact—this can make the situation worse, and in some cases, it can even become dangerous for you or your loved one. During a hallucination, patience is going to be key.
If you suspect a loved one is hallucinating, try to:
- Stay calm. Your demeanor is going to make a significant difference in your loved one’s mental state—if you panic, they likely will too.
- Verify the situation. Make sure your loved one knows you’re taking them seriously. If they claim to be seeing something, take a moment to confirm whether or not it’s actually there.
- Be reassuring. If you can, try to reassure your loved one that they are safe and that what they’re experiencing isn’t real.
- Make small changes. If there is any tactile or visual stimulation that may be making the hallucination worse, try to remove it from the environment.
- Distract them with something familiar. Sometimes, a simple conversation or changing the subject can help redirect your loved one’s attention and help them snap out of a hallucination.
- Redirect their attention. Sometimes, a simple change of scenery or activity can help break the cycle of hallucinations. Try engaging your loved one in an activity they enjoy to distract them from their experience.
- Consult a professional. If the hallucination continues, contact a medical professional immediately.
It’s important that you prioritize safety throughout this experience. Hallucinations can be extremely distressing, and your loved one may react with hostility or aggression. If you’re worried about safety at any point, immediately step back and contact a healthcare professional. Never put yourself at risk.
How We Can Help
At Boden Senior Living in Coon Rapids, we know how important it is to approach cognitive issues with care. It can be difficult to support a loved one with cognitive decline and memory impairment on your own, so our team is here to help when you need it. In our community, we can offer your loved one a home where they can be surrounded by experienced and loving caregivers to help them. Lifespark offers programs such as Enriching Connections that focuses on providing our staff and caregivers with dementia specific training. Lifespark’s unwavering commitment to enrich the lives of our seniors with dementia has allowed us to be proactive in our approach to caring for those with memory loss. The Enriching Connections program provides the education necessary to focus on an individualized plan for each resident while allowing them to be as independent as possible. Contact a team member at Boden Senior Living in Coon Rapids to learn more.
