Dementia Caregiving: Hallucinations or Delusions?

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Hello Caregivers and welcome back to another episode of Answers about Alzheimer's with Debra Kostiw. In today’s video, as is often the case, we are tackling a difficult subject: dementia caregiving and figuring out if your person is experiencing hallucinations or delusions. This is the first in a two-part series, so be sure to subscribe so that you stay up to date on all our new content. This video focuses primarily on hallucinations. Hallucinations are one of many potential symptoms of dementia, but can vary between diseases. A person with Alzheimer’s Disease may develop hallucinations towards the end of the journey, while someone with Lewy Body Dementia will likely have intense hallucinations early into the disease process. Be sure to confirm what dementia your person is afflicted with and keep in mind that misdiagnosis is a real issue. In short, hallucinations are imaginary stimuli that can affect each of our senses - most commonly sight and hearing. They are not real, but your person with dementia will believe that they are and you may find it impossible to convince them otherwise. Understand that not all hallucinations are bad, for example, a person hallucinating their childhood dog may be very happy to play with that dog again. In this situation, it really is best to just play along or leave them to their own devices if you so choose. You only need to get involved if the hallucination is causing distress.

For more tips and information on how to deal with hallucinations, be sure to keep watching and subscribe. You can also check out our website and our book “Forget me Not” where we dive much deeper into how to effectively manage hallucinations in someone with dementia.

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[motherJ]

Love all your videos! They are so inspiring and on point. I have over 4, 000 videos of my Mothers 9 year journey. After watching your clips, I actually have videos of my mom displaying the behaviors you share with us. From doctor appointments, delusional, sundowners etc. Thank you for sharing!

[carolmoore]

Oh yes! Been through both hallucinations with my dad and dilutions with my mom. Thanks for filling in the information cracks.

[louisahenry]

Yes I too have had experience of my partners hallucination and delusion he thought he saw his grandma long deceased coming through the door, his delusions on more than one occasion have been that his sister and someone else was sleeping in the bed with him though lately he has not spoken about it his other delusions concern his accusations of me having numerous affairs with every male he can think of even strangers actually much of what you say applies to my situation so I am grateful for these videos you have mentioned about leaving someone on thier own I am at home with my partner 24 7 his daughter comes twice weekly so I can go shopping 2or 3 hrs but the rest of my time is spent with him I do feel drained at times when I do feel like that I take myself into the kitchen to watch u tube unfortunately the kitchen has a glass door & I see him sitting in his armchair sometimes watching t v or dozing off & I immediately feel guilty because I have left him on his own . I need help with this one can you tell me if I am doing the right thing or not thank you

[davidlewis]

Sorry, but I can’t just ignore it they it causes her to leave the house to meet people who are not real.