Everything You Must Know About Geriatric Hallucinations

Geriatric hallucinations are hallucinations experienced by the elderly. They typically occur in patients with cognitive-affective symptoms of dementia and can range from very mild to severe enough to result in hospitalization. There are many different kinds of geriatric hallucination, including those that seem real but do not exist (false awakenings) or those that seem unreal but exist in reality (hallucinations).

Symptoms

1. Delusions

An individual who is experiencing delusions is likely to be exhibiting them around the clock. When encountered by an older adult, fantasies may be very mild and seemingly harmless (for example, a delusion that a particular invisible person is always watching her). They can also be severe enough to impact everyday life (for example, an illusion that the world will end as soon as tonight).

2. Hallucinations

Hallucinations can be either realistic or unrealistic, depending on their content. Real hallucinations tend to be formed around a person’s current mental state and are not necessarily experienced by the individual at all times. For example, a patient with dementia hallucinates that his grandpa is alive and experiencing a reality-based delusion. Hallucinations that are not experienced independently of the person’s current mental state (for example, what appears as a ghost outside the window).

3. Delirium

A patient with delirium experiences a disruption of mental status and is likely to be exhibiting agitation around the clock. Fever is considered a senior emergency and requires immediate medical attention.

4. Psychosis

Psychosis involves a loss of contact with reality, whether manifested as a hallucination or dementia-like symptoms (such as paranoia). This condition can also occur around the clock. Like other geriatric delusions and hallucinations, psychosis in an older adult may be very mild or severe. If the older adult has a very severe case of psychosis, he or she may experience hallucinations and delusions.

How Can You Help People Having Geriatric Hallucinations?

1. Reduce Psychological Stress

It can be tough to determine whether specific geriatric hallucination symptoms are caused by dementia or psychological distress. However, it is easier to treat hallucinations that have a psychological origin than it is to treat those resulting from dementia. You can help reduce your elderly loved one’s stress level by providing reassurance and caregiving assistance (for example, helping her bathe and dress).

2. Isolation

If an older person is having severe hallucinations, you should avoid making him, or her feel alone. Try to provide them with distractions, such as TV or books. If necessary, you should also try to limit evening activities so that your elderly loved one does not have a lot of time to think about the hallucinations. Be sure to talk with your elderly loved one about his or her hallucinations and the reasons for them.

3. Treatment

Treatment for geriatric hallucinations is not always necessary. For example, if an older adult’s hallucinations are mild and do not disrupt his or her day-to-day functioning, treatment may not be needed. If a patient’s hallucinations worsen, however (for example, he or she begins to believe that someone will harm him), they can be treated with antipsychotic medications.

4. Medications

Medications can treat most geriatric hallucinations, but they will not always wholly fix the situation. You should discuss the possible side effects of the medicines you choose with your doctor and try to make sure that you find something that works well for your elderly loved one.

5. Ambulance Services

If an older adult’s hallucinations cause him or her to damage personal property or make him or her unable to care for himself or herself, you should call 911. The paramedics will determine whether the older adult needs to be taken to the hospital for a mental health evaluation.

6. Mental Health Professionals

Mental health professionals can be beneficial to you if you live with an elderly loved one experiencing delusions and hallucinations. They can help assess the older adult’s level of dementia and make sure that they receive the medical care they need.

7. Therapy

Therapy may be helpful for older adults who experience delusions, hallucinations, and other forms of dementia-like symptoms (such as paranoia). Treatment also can help patients with these conditions maintain their mental health on a day-to-day basis. Therapy can also help patients with hallucinations develop coping skills so that they can deal with the symptoms.

8. Dream Therapy

Dream therapy may be helpful for older adults experiencing delusions, hallucinations, and other symptoms of dementia-like conditions (such as paranoia). It can help patients learn how to cope with and process their experiences. Dream analysis is not appropriate for all older adults, however. If sufficient progress is not made in the first few sessions, you should seek treatment from a mental health professional.

9. Olfactory Deprivation

This treatment involves depriving the person with hallucinations of certain scents, such as perfume or cologne. This treatment is not appropriate for all older adults, and it can be dangerous if the patient has a heart condition. It may also not be suitable for patients who are experiencing delusions.

10. Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is another treatment option for older adults experiencing hallucinations. However, it is not appropriate for everyone, and it does not treat all symptoms of dementia-like conditions (such as delusions).

11. Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation can be beneficial for older adults who experience hallucinations and other psychotic symptoms. This type of treatment helps patients maintain their physical and mental health. It can also help patients cope with any challenging situations they experience on a day-to-day basis.

12. Life Skills Training

Life skills training can also help older adults who experience delusions, hallucinations, and other symptoms of dementia-like conditions (such as paranoia). This type of treatment helps patients develop new coping skills to manage their daily lives successfully.

13. Social Interaction Therapy

Social interaction therapy can be beneficial for older adults experiencing hallucinations (and other types of dementia-like symptoms). This type of therapy helps patients deal with social interactions in a healthier way. It is not appropriate for all older adults, however.

Dementia is a severe and challenging disease. Sometimes, it causes older adults to experience delusions and hallucinations (and other types of dementia-like symptoms). These symptoms can make an older adult’s life very challenging. The best way to take care of your elderly loved one if he or she is experiencing these problems is to keep him or her safe and secure.