Does your loved one have hallucinations with Alzheimer's? (Alzheimer's, Hallucinations & Delusions) - Let's talk about this

Does your elderly mother, father, grandmother, or grandfather have a memory disorder like Alzheimer's? When you have one, you may have noticed that he or she sometimes talks to someone in a place where there is no one around, or accuses you of stealing money. It is normal to feel very scared and sad when you see things like this. But don't worry, this is something that many people experience with this condition. Today we are talking about these conditions called hallucinations and delusions.

What are these hallucinations and delusions?

Although these two words are somewhat similar, there is a slight difference between these two situations. Let's see what that is.

Hallucinations

Simply put, this is when you perceive something that is not there. That is, you see, hear, feel, taste, or smell something that is not there . Think of things like seeing an insect crawling on your hand, or hearing someone's voice when no one is there. These are less common in Alzheimer's disease, but they are also common in other types of dementia, such as Lewy body dementia.

Delusions

This is a little different. What happens here is that, no matter how clearly proven false, they still believe the same thing. For example, thinking that you are stealing their money, thinking that there is a stranger in the house, thinking that someone is trying to poison them. About half of people with dementia can have these kinds of delusions.

When is emergency medical treatment needed?

In some cases, these conditions can be dangerous. If you experience any of the following symptoms, it is important to immediately take the person to the nearest hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) .

When to see your doctor

There's no need to always run to the ETU. But in cases like this, you should definitely see your regular doctor and talk about this .

• If you are afraid that he will harm himself or others.
• If he is sad or upset because of these visions or hallucinations.
• If this were the first time something like this had happened .
• If these conditions occur more frequently than before or last longer .
• If he or she shows signs of delirium, that is, they suddenly become more disoriented, lose focus, seem to have less energy, suddenly change in behavior, or slur their speech.

What are the causes of these situations?

There may be several reasons for this.

• Vision or hearing impairment: For someone who cannot see or hear well, the combination of low light or ambient noise, along with the confusion caused by Alzheimer's disease, can make it more likely that they will see or hear things that are not there.
• Brain changes caused by dementia: The disease itself damages the sensory processing parts of the brain.
• Other illnesses: Fever, seizures, stroke, migraines, or other infections can affect brain function.
• Forgetfulness: People with dementia forget things. Their minds fill in the gaps in their memories, creating illusions that make sense to them.
• Certain medications: Some medications, such as steroids, can affect the brain.
• Alcohol and drugs: These conditions can also be caused by using or stopping these.
• Pre-existing mental illness: If someone has a pre-existing severe mental illness, these symptoms may be related to it.

How is it treated?

Treatment depends on the cause. If it is caused by another underlying medical condition (e.g. an infection), the symptoms will usually go away once that condition is treated.

If these conditions are caused by Alzheimer's disease, there are certain medications that are given for that. We call them ``Antipsychotic medications''. But most of the time, doctors are reluctant to give these medications. The reason is that these medications can increase the risk of falls, heart attacks, and strokes. Therefore, priority is given to things that can be done without medication.

Things you can do to care for him at home

This is the most important part. Before medication, there are many things you can do at home.

But if he's upset, try these things:

• Don't argue with him. He won't accept it if you say, "There's no such thing." That will only make him more upset.
• Speak calmly and kindly to comfort him. If possible, gently hold his hand.
• Try to figure out what he's looking at. Maybe he sees a pattern on the window curtain that looks like a face.
• Some people find it better to tell the truth. Say something like, "I don't see it that way, but I know you do."
• For some people, it's better to react to what they see. For example, if they see snakes, they pretend to kill them.
• Divert attention with something he enjoys. Listen to a song, look at an old photo album, or cook a meal he likes.
• Change the environment. If the problem is caused by the window covering, remove it.

Things you need to pay attention to

Sometimes they can act agitated in these situations. This could be because they have a need. So first check to see if they are hungry, thirsty, tired, have they soiled their clothes, or are they in pain somewhere .

If he gets agitated and starts yelling, hitting, or pushing, think about your safety as well. Step back a bit, give him space, and remove any objects around him that could be used as weapons.

Help prevent these situations from happening again

You can do the following to reduce these problems:

• If he needs glasses, hearing aids, or dentures, make sure he uses them properly. Keep the glasses clean.
• Make sure the rooms are well lit. Leave the lights on at night. This will reduce the chance of being deceived by shadows.
• Reduce unnecessary noise from TV and radio.
• As much as possible, keep him in a familiar environment, with a familiar routine, and with familiar people.
• If this problem arises because of the same thing every day, remove or change that thing from the environment.

Alzheimer's, hallucinations, delusions, dementia, elder care, mental health, forgetfulness