Dementia comes with a range of disorders – from memory loss and behavioral changes to language problems and declining cognitive abilities. The symptoms of dementia do not stop here and, in later stages, may also lead to hallucinations, where people see things that do not exist. This worsens the condition of dementia patients, leading to more distressed symptoms that affect the overall perception of the individual. Let’s see what hallucinations are, how they affect a person, and what steps you can take to care for them.
What Exactly Are Hallucinations in Dementia?
Understanding dementia hallucinations is crucial to providing the proper care to the patient. A hallucination can be defined as the sensation of experiencing something that does not exist. It is a false perception that can greatly change how a person experiences reality. This can include things like imaginary figures, hearing sounds, smelling things that are not present, etc.
This is common in dementia patients in the later stages. Hallucinations affect different senses and happen because of the changes in brain functions. These experiences can range from simple, like flashes of light, to complex, like detailed sense, with interactions involving people or animals.
What Causes Hallucinations in Dementia Patients?
There may be a number of reasons that could lead to dementia hallucination. Here are some of them:
- Damage to Brain Cells
With the progression of dementia, the brain cells get damaged. This damage can interfere with the normal processing of the sensory information and cause misinterpretations of sensory input that cause hallucinations.
- Decline in Cognitive Function
As dementia causes a decline in cognitive abilities, it affects a person’s capability to understand and perceive their environment accurately. This cognitive decline may play a role in the onset of hallucinations.
- Additional Health Issues
Many medications have side effects that cause the person to hallucinate. If the person is dealing with a disease like Parkinson’s disease and taking medications for that, it can also lead to hallucinations.
The Different Faces of Hallucinations
Here are the different types of dementia hallucinations that dementia patients can encounter.
- Auditory Hallucinations
In this type of dementia hallucination, the persons hear voices or sounds that do not exist. This can include hearing music, conversations, or sounds like footsteps or knocking. These hallucinations can be distressing to a person’s daily life.
- Visual Hallucinations
In this case, the patient sees a variety of things, such as abstract shapes, people, animals, or manifestations of light. This visual hallucination often leads the patient to believe that they are witnessing real events or entities.
- Tactile Hallucinations
They occur when the person feels sensations of touch that have no external source. The patient may feel as if insects are crawling on their skin or may feel a sensation of being touched.
- Gustatory Hallucinations
In this case, the patient experiences tastes that are not actually present. They might perceive a metallic flavor even when eating nothing that could produce such a taste.
- Olfactory Hallucinations
It involves the perception of smells that are not present in the environment. The person may feel like something is burning or smell perfumes that are not there.
How to Support Someone with Hallucinations?
Each type of hallucination and dementia can significantly impact a person’s perception of reality, often requiring supportive care and management. You can follow these tips to care for the affected person:
- Medical Help
Prompt evaluation of the signs in a person can help provide the right care. If the person is experiencing frequent hallucinations, caregivers should ensure that the person gets medical help from a general practitioner. It will help to identify the underlying cause of the hallucination and take the appropriate steps toward treatment.
- Understanding the Person’s Condition
When dealing with someone who has hallucination and dementia, it is critical to remain calm. Put yourself in the position of the person to understand what they are going through. This will help you to manage them in a gentle manner, recognizing their sentiments and avoiding arguments.
- Change the Environment
Sometimes, certain things or places may trigger hallucinations. If the patient is hallucinating for a longer duration, caregivers can move them to a different space to reduce triggers. This will help the person to feel at ease and calm their mind.
- Engage With the Patient
Conversing with the patient and giving them company may help in diverting their attention. Social interactions can create a positive impact on their experience and provide support to the patient.
Conclusion
Handling a loved one experiencing hallucination and dementia can be challenging. However, understanding the symptoms and taking appropriate measures can help one deal with them. Medical advice should be sought by a general practitioner if the situation is getting worse. The focus should be on keeping the affected person safe and comfortable and adopting care plans to manage the illness appropriately.