Alzheimer’s patients may experience sensory disturbances, including visual and auditory hallucinations. Caregivers can manage hallucinations by acknowledging them, offering reassurance, and providing redirection. An evaluation by a neurologist and medication may also be helpful.
Alzheimer’s hallucinations are sensory disturbances associated with advanced cases of Alzheimer’s disease, although not all patients will develop hallucinations. In patients with hallucinations, people have sensory experiences that feel real – sometimes more real than their surroundings – and can also be very detailed. There are several ways to deal with Alzheimer’s hallucinations, depending on a patient’s case progression and the type of hallucinations experienced.
Most hallucinations associated with Alzheimer’s disease are visual and auditory. People can see things like deceased family members, pets, and so on, and they can hear music, voices, and other sounds. It is also possible to experience other sensory disturbances, sometimes in concert; someone may smell flowers and see roses, for example, or hear an animal and feel the sensation of fur or a moist nose.
This progressive neurological disease can lead to confusion and disorientation in patients. It is usually not advisable to simply correct a patient, as this can be upsetting and can lead to behavioral problems. People have different approaches to managing Alzheimer’s hallucinations. If they are pleasant, caregivers can be told to indulge in Alzheimer’s hallucinations or to avoid actively challenging them. If they are unpleasant, offering reassurance can help, and some patients benefit from having their caregivers engage with the content of the hallucination. For example, if someone sees a snake in the bed, the caregiver may push the snake away or use a broom to “move” the snake to reassure the patient.
Providing redirection during Alzheimer’s hallucinations can also be helpful. However, some patients become combative when their caregivers try to provide distractions, so people should be careful about how and when to redirect. It is recommended that you acknowledge the hallucination rather than dismiss it before moving into a distraction. So, for example, a caregiver might say, “Oh, isn’t the music lovely! Now, could you help me with…” to refocus the patient’s attention. In the case of a frightening hallucination, it is also recommended to tell the patient that the environment is safe to reduce agitation.
Developing hallucinations can be a sign of increasing cognitive dysfunction. When patients begin to hallucinate, an evaluation by a neurologist may be a good idea. There may also be medications available to address traumatic, shocking, or frightening hallucinations to make the patient feel more comfortable. Every patient is different and an individualized treatment plan should be developed to address the concerns associated with advancing Alzheimer’s disease.
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