Hallucinations – seeing or hearing people, voices, or things that aren’t really there – often happens as a result of dementia. It can be very frightening, both for the sufferer and the carer. Some people with dementia form quite a close attachment to their ‘invisible friend’ but more often than not the experience is a distressing one. This situation is best handled by reassurance. Explain that you know they can see someone who you can’t and try to be supportive.
Sometimes visual hallucinations result either from a false impression given by an inadequately lit and dimly perceived object or from poor sight. If the illumination in the room appears poor, improve it and see whether this helps.
If hallucinations become a major problem it is important to seek medical advice, as this is one situation where medication may actually be helpful. There is, however, no point in treating them unless they are causing distress or upset or are disrupting the daily routine.
A similar problem, although not really a hallucination, can occur when people with dementia see their own reflection in a mirror. They may fail to realize that it is their own image they are seeing and interpret their reflection as indicating the presence of a stranger. This can sometimes provoke an aggressive or fearful response. If this is a particular problem, a small curtain or cloth can be draped across the mirror, enabling others to use it when necessary, while at the same time removing the cause of the distress.
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