Alzheimer's: How to Care for Someone Who Is Hallucinating
Spotting hallucinations and delusions
The challenge as a caregiver is how to spot the hallucinations and delusions. You know a polar bear is unlikely to be in your suburban backyard, but what about reports of a man lurking in the bushes? Should you take it seriously? If loved ones are at a care facility, it’s even harder to hear about delusions of mistreatment or malnourishment; what’s the truth and what’s the fiction?
Unfortunately, there is no easy test or list of criteria. Hallucinations and delusions are unique to each person and environment. It’s a matter of knowing your loved one and making a judgement call about when to investigate and when to sooth.
