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Do Dementia Patients See Things That Are Not There

Is It Really A Hallucination

Dementia – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Options

First make sure that what youre dealing with is a hallucination caused by dementia and not simply the result of:

Eye sight problems

Dementia can affect sight and vision in many different ways. For example, a person with dementia might mistake a reflection in the mirror for an intruder or think people on TV are in the room with them. They could also have problems recognising familiar faces or become wary of familiar environments, for example, a shiny floor might look wet, a shadow in a corner might look like a hole.So before assuming theyre having a hallucination, arrange a sight test with an optician and make sure each room in the home is well lit and dementia friendly.

Other health issues

A kidney or bladder infection, alcohol, and certain medications can also cause confusion and lead to hallucinations.

At What Stage Of Dementia Do Hallucinations Occur

To put it succinctly. A hallucination is a sensation of seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling, or tasting something that is not actually there . As a result of changes in the brain, hallucinations can arise. If they do occur, they generally appear in the middle or later stages of the dementia progression.

Changes In Perception And Hallucinations In Dementia

Our senses hearing, sight, smell, taste and touch help us understand the world around us.

But in many people with dementia, the brain misinterprets the information from their senses. This can cause changes in perception, where they experience things differently from other people.

Changes in perception may also be caused by physical changes, such as their sight or hearing getting worse as they get older.

Some people with dementia have hallucinations. This is where they experience something that is not really happening, like hearing voices or seeing things that arent there . Visual hallucinations are more common in people with Lewy body dementia.

Signs that someone may be experiencing changes in perception or hallucinations include:

  • not recognising where they are
  • bumping into things or having frequent trips and falls, as if theyre struggling to see objects around them
  • reacting to things other people cant see
  • muttering under their breath, or talking like theyre responding to something you cant hear
  • appearing frightened or distressed
  • scratching or picking their skin as if they itch
  • becoming more socially isolated

The good news is there are lots of things you can do to help people with dementia who are experiencing changes in perception and hallucinations.

Visual changes

Auditory changes

Taste changes

Changes in sense of touch

Changes in sense of smell

You can read and download our leaflet with The Lewy Body Society on Capgras syndrome.

Read Also: Why Is Alzheimer’s On The Increase

When Should I Ask For Support

Supporting people with dementia at the end of their life requires a team approach. Often, there will be many people involved in the persons care at the end of their life. Good communication and information sharing helps to ensure the person receives the care they need.

If youre unsure about anything or have any concerns seek advice from a colleague, manager or another health care professional.

There may be certain professionals who can advise on specific issues. These may include a GP, district nurses, social workers, other care staff and specialists.

Behavior Changes With Dementia

Powys Mental Health Blog: Memory boxes  connecting with the past

As we continue our series on behavior changes with dementia, we will focus on refusal to bathe and eat, depression and anxiety, and paranoia.

If you are a caregiver and would like to talk about the best options for the future, give us a call at 512-399-5089. We can help you through every step of the way.

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Read Also: Do Aluminum Pans Cause Alzheimer’s

Have You Noticed That A Person With Dementia Is Struggling To Recognise Things Or Seeing Things Differently Here We Explain How Dementia Can Affect Sight

If you are caring for a person with dementia, you might have noticed from time to time that they appear to be seeing things differently. An example could be failing to recognise someone they know, or mistaking an item for something else. The person might also have trouble finding things and be struggling to avoid obstacles or judge spaces.

The first step is to arrange for them to have an eye test to make sure their eyes are OK, and regular eye checks once a year are a sensible idea in any case. However, you may find that their sight is perfectly normal. So why are they seeing things differently?

In the book, The Essential Carers Guide To Dementia, author Mary Jordan estimates that up to 60 per cent of people with dementia have trouble with impaired vision. Jordan explains that we dont see with our eyes. Our brain interprets what we see, so its understandable that many people with dementia will struggle to interpret what they see at some point. According to Alzheimers Society, there are three common mistakes with sight in a person with dementia.

These include:

Illusions the person may be seeing a distortion of reality.

Misperceptions what the person sees is a best guess at the inaccurate or distorted information the brain has received from the eyes.

Misidentifications damage to specific parts of the brain can mean that the person has trouble identifying objects and people. The person may struggle to distinguish between a wife and a daughter for instance.

What Are The 7 Stages Of Dementia

Dementia is a broad term used to describe a decline in mental ability. This can be due to a variety of different causes, but the result is typically an impairment in memory, communication, and other cognitive skills.

There are seven recognized stages of dementia, each with its own set of symptoms and challenges. This is known as the Global Deterioration Scale .

The seven Clinical Stages of Alzheimers disease, also known as the Global Deterioration Scale , was developed by Dr. Barry Reisberg, Director of the Fisher Alzheimers Disease Education and Research program at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

Fisher Center for Alzheimers

These stages range from mild to severe, and the progression of dementia can vary greatly from one person to the next.

Stage 1: The early stages of dementia can be deceptively normal. Patients may seem fine, able to care for themselves and others as they always have. They dont struggle in any part of their everyday lives. But beneath the surface, small changes are happening.

Some of the early signs of dementia include:

  • trouble recalling events or names of familiar people.
  • withdrawing from social activities.
  • changes in mood.
  • confusion about time and place

If you notice these changes in someone you know, its important to encourage them to see a doctor. Early diagnosis and treatment of dementia can help delay the progression of the disease and improve the quality of life for patients and their families.

Also Check: Is Twiddling Thumbs A Sign Of Alzheimer’s

Signs Of Dementia Related Sight Loss

If you have a dementia, consider if you are having difficulty with

  • coping with bright light, low light or both
  • locating food on your plate
  • seeing well with your current glasses

Sight loss is often undiagnosed in people with a dementia because the dementia can mask symptoms of sight loss, or your sight loss could be mistaken for a symptom of the dementia.

You might find your behaviour changes as a reaction to the sight loss. Some people with dementia find they

  • become withdrawn or uncommunicative
  • are clumsy or fall more
  • have visual hallucinations
  • need to hold things up close to see them
  • feel confused and disorientated
  • are startled by noises or people approaching

How Can You Tell If Someone Is Hallucinating

Why do people with dementia lie?

Sometimes the person may appear to be hallucinating, but there is another cause . The following tips can help to identify hallucinations:

  • Hallucinations differ from misperceptions or misidentifications. Listen to what the person is describing, and check if anything could be causing what they are experiencing. For example, if they describe a swarm of insects, and there is a busy pattern on a carpet, it may be a misperception. By changing or covering the carpet, the misperception may stop.
  • If the person seems to be having auditory hallucinations , arrange to have their hearing checked. If the person wears a hearing aid, check that it is working properly at the right setting, and encourage them to wear it. The person may be having problems with their hearing, rather than hallucinating.
  • If the person seems to be having gustatory hallucinations , make sure they are getting regular dental check-ups to rule out other causes such as tooth decay or denture cream. For more information see Dental care and oral health.

Recommended Reading: Has Alzheimer’s Ever Been Reversed

What Are The Main Types Of Dementia

Alzheimers disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for around 2 out of every 3 of cases in older people. Vascular dementia is another common form, while dementia with Lewy bodies and frontotemporal dementia are less common.

It is possible to have more than one type of dementia at the same time. Alzheimers is sometimes seen with vascular dementia or dementia with Lewy bodies. You might hear this called mixed dementia.

The symptoms of dementia vary depending on the disease, or diseases, causing it. You can read more about the symptoms associated with different types of dementia on the Alzheimers Society website .

Stage : Mild Cognitive Impairment

Clear cognitive problems begin to manifest in stage 3. A few signs of stage 3 dementia include:

  • Getting lost easily
  • Noticeably poor performance at work
  • Forgetting the names of family members and close friends
  • Difficulty retaining information read in a book or passage
  • Losing or misplacing important objects
  • Difficulty concentrating

Patients often start to experience mild to moderate anxiety as these symptoms increasingly interfere with day to day life. Patients who may be in this stage of dementia are encouraged to have a clinical interview with a clinician for proper diagnosis.

Read Also: When Does Dementia Most Often Occur

Medications Used For Treating Psychosis

Antipsychotic agents are designed to balance abnormal chemical levels in the brain. Up until the 1990s, the use of antipsychotics in PD was controversial because the drugs used until that time work by reducing excess dopamine. This alleviated psychosis but caused dramatic worsening of PD motor symptoms.Fortunately, medications that are better tolerated by people with PD are now available. Today, there are three antipsychotic medications considered relatively safe for people with PD. They cause limited worsening of PD while treating hallucinations and delusions.

How Dementia Patients See The World

Pin by L A Ryan on Just Beautiful
  • How You Can Help Your Loved One
  • Having dementia is like losing your five senses one-by-one. Its scary and confusing, and the feeling of powerlessness that you have as you slowly lose your memory and cognitive functions is very overwhelming.

    Is it any wonder that your loved one starts to change their behavior? How horrible must it feel to have dementia?

    Though you can never truly understand unless you feel it for yourself, this article is going to shed some light on what it feels like to have dementia and how you can help your loved one cope with their new reality.

    Also Check: What Is Early Onset Dementia Called

    Are Hallucinations Common At End Of Life

    • Visions and hallucinations are two types of hallucinations.
    • Visual or auditory hallucinations are frequently experienced as part of the dying process.
    • It is not uncommon for family members or loved ones who have passed on to reappear.
    • These sights are often seen as normal.
    • The dying may shift their attention to another realm, where they may communicate with others or see things that others may not perceive.

    Articles On Behavior Problems With Dementia And Alzheimer’s

    Hallucinations and delusions are common in older people with Alzheimerâs disease and other types of dementia. While theyâre alike in some ways, theyâre not the same thing.

    Hallucinations happen when someone sees, hears, feels, tastes, or smells something that isnât really there. Someone who hallucinates might see insects crawling on their hand or hear imaginary voices. These are fairly rare with Alzheimerâs disease but are common in other types of dementia, especially Lewy body dementia.

    Delusions cause someone to firmly believe in things that are clearly untrue. They might think youâre stealing their things or that there are strangers in the house. These happen in almost half of all people with any type of dementia, including Alzheimerâs disease.

    • Hallucinations start to happen with more than one sense. For instance, they feel and hear things as well as see them.
    • Hallucinations or delusions cause them to hurt themselves or others.
    • They suddenly begin to see sparks, flashes, streaks of light, dark spots, floating spots, or spots that look like a spider web or a large fly. These could be signs of a problem with their eyes.
    • They suddenly canât see. This could be caused by a stroke or a problem with their eyes.
    • They have severe shortness of breath or chest pain or are vomiting.

    Also Check: What Are The Signs Of End Of Life Dementia

    How Does A Person Experience Hallucinations

    Some people with dementia will have hallucinations in different senses for example:

    • auditory hallucinations hearing things that arent there, like voices or footsteps
    • olfactory hallucinations smelling things that arent there, such as smoke or perfume
    • tactile hallucinations physically feeling things that arent there, such as being kissed or insects crawling over their skin
    • gustatory hallucinations tasting things that arent there, such as a metallic taste in their mouth.

    Visual hallucinations are more common in people with dementia with Lewy bodies, and often take the form of complex, vivid and very realistic hallucinations of people or animals. They often last for several minutes and happen often.

    Hallucinations can be extremely distressing, and can lead to the person with dementia becoming frightened and in need of support. However, some people find the hallucinations pleasant or comforting. It often depends on what they are hallucinating and how others respond.

    When People With Dementia Experience A Different Reality

    3 Things Not to Say to Someone with Dementia

    Sometimes people with dementia say things that suggest they have a different idea of reality or sense of what is really going on from our own. A person might, for example, ask to see his wife or tell us that he sees insects in his bedroom .

    When we build up this awareness of an individuals ways of communicating, it helps us to find an effective response and also address the persons needs.

    This is partly because the persons memory and ways of seeing things have been altered by dementia. Memory about current or recent events tends to become damaged, while memory about the past remains relatively intact so the past can seem more real than the present to the person with dementia. A person might see things that arent there because they are experiencing a hallucination or are having difficulties making sense of what their eyes are seeing.

    Also Check: The Causes And Effects Of Alzheimer’s Disease

    How Much Does A Person With Dementia Understand

    Its tough to say how much a person with dementia understands about their condition. It depends on the individual and how far along they are in the disease. In general, though, people with dementia tend to be aware that something is wrong.

    They may not know the specifics of their diagnosis, but they realize that their memory and thinking skills are declining.

    This can be a very difficult thing to come to terms with. Many people feel scared, confused, and frustrated as they watch their once-sharp minds start to slip away.

    If youre wondering how much your loved one with dementia understands, the best thing to do is talk to their doctor. They can give you more specific information about your loved ones cognitive abilities and help you better understand what to expect in the coming months and years.

    It also would not hurt to ask for an assessment from an Occupational Therapist. This could provide you with in-depth information on your loved ones condition.

    Do Dementia Patients Know What They Are Saying

    Its a question that family members and caregivers of dementia patients often ask themselves do they understand what their loved ones are saying? The answer, unfortunately, is not always clear.

    One of the biggest hurdles I had as an Occupational Therapist was trying to get the family to understand that their senior loved one was not always aware of what they were saying out loud.

    Anyone whos spent time with an elderly relative or friend with cognitive decline knows that venturing out into the world can be a bit of a minefield. Even simple tasks like going to the grocery store or the doctors office can often devolve into embarrassing or even cringe-worthy situations.

    Its not just that elders with cognitive decline may say or do inappropriate things in public though that certainly happens but they may also have difficulty understanding and following simple instructions or directions.

    This can lead to frustration on both their part and the part of caregivers or loved ones who are trying to help them.

    Family members, in my experience, often take what is said to them verbatim. This could lead to them being angry or hurt. But the truth of the matter is that their loved one with dementia simply is not aware of what she is saying.

    Its important for caregivers to remember that their loved ones are not necessarily aware of the things theyre saying. This can help them to be more patient and understanding when their loved one is having a difficult day.

    Recommended Reading: How To Care For Alzheimer Patients

    The Difference Between Hallucinations And Delusions

    • Hallucinations are defined as false perceptions. They are very real to the person experiencing them. One example is seeing bugs crawling on the floor, though they are not there. Nothing you say to the person having that experience will convince him/her otherwise.
    • Delusions, per the National Institute of Health, are strongly held fixed beliefs or opinions not based on evidence. These false beliefs and opinions can be about people or things. They can also be about the person with dementia. Some common types of delusions include stealing, believing there is an intruder, and infidelity. Paranoia is a form of delusion.

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