Page 46 - Dementia-Care-Specialist-Toolkit

Caregiver Tip Sheets

Hallucinations

People with Alzheimer’s or dementia can sometimes hear, see,
smell, taste, or feel something that is not really there. They may
talk to someone from the past who is no longer in the home or
even still alive or is a pretend friend. This can alarm close ones.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

SEE A DOCTOR
• visit the doctor to find out the cause
(bring ALL medications with you)
• tell the doctor about every time you think this has happened
WHY DOES
(keep a log — day, time, and what was going on around the
THIS HAPPEN? person with Alzheimer’s or dementia)

People with Alzheimer’s or THINK ABOUT THE CAUSE
dementia might be:
• change the possible reason
• having a reaction to • if the person doesn’t know who is in the mirror, cover the mirror
medicine • if things come out in the dark, turn on the lights or use a nightlight

• taking the wrong amount • if the TV or radio is confusing or scary, turn it off
of medicine
BE REASSURING
• going through changes in • say things like “don’t worry, I’m here and will take care of you”
the brain due to the disease
• agree, don’t argue, about whether what’s happening is real…
it is real to them
• involve him or her in something pleasant to distract them

844.HELP. ALZ
AlzheimersLA.org
© 2016 Alzheimer’s Los Angeles
Supported by DHHS, ACL (#90AL0002-01-00)

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