The most common causes of hallucinations in the elderly are dementia, Alzheimer's disease, side effects of medications, and psychosis. A condition known as Charles Bonnet Syndrome can also cause hallucinations in the elderly. Elderly patients who have had or are recovering from a stroke have been known to experience hallucinations as well.
When an elderly person is exhibiting symptoms of dementia, he can sometimes experience paranoia along with delusions and hallucinations that are either auditory or visual. A patient may believe that an object is in front of him, and so he believes he is 'seeing' something that is non-existent, or hearing sounds and noises that do not exist. He may also smell things that are in his own mind.
When hallucinations in the elderly who have dementia, it is typically due to systematic changes that occur within areas of the brain. These changes that can contribute to delusions and hallucinations in the elderly dementia patient generally occur within the frontal and temporal regions of the brain. Delusions differ from hallucinations, in that the patient doesn't necessarily see or hear things that aren't present, but he may have a distorted view of situations around him.
Auditory or visual hallucinations in the elderly can occur with a condition known as Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS). This condition typically manifests in older patients with hearing loss or deafness, or who have limited sight or total blindness. The patient may actually hear music, melodies, or other sounds that are non-existent. Patients with CBS may also see visions of animals or other designs and sights that do not exist. These hallucinations typically happen to patients who, at some prior period in life, had been able to see or hear.
Strokes or other trauma to the brain can be direct causes of hallucinations in the elderly. Again, this type of injury would affect the temporal or frontal lobes. When injury to the brain affects these significant areas, ability to reason, as well as visual disturbances can occur. These occurrences can sometimes manifest into hallucinations in the elderly patient.
Hallucinations in the elderly are not uncommon. If the patient is in an unfamiliar situation, hallucinations have been known to occur. In addition to hallucinations in which the patient actually sees visions that do not exist, he may also become delusional and imagine a situation or event that has not actually occurred.
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TheTiger
Post 2 |
@anon128052 - It sounds like you and your family are doing very well at trying to remain patient and sympathetic to your mother. The only advice I could give is to try to maintain that patience and keep visiting, even when she is increasingly hostile. I know it’s difficult to maintain a positive relationship with an elderly person who is suffering from these kinds of hallucinations, but since dementia is so common in elderly people it is often ignored and that can make it a lot worse. I would try to remain positive and engage your mother in positive activities. It can be hard caring for an elderly person suffering from dementia, but maintaining a strong bond is always helpful. I hope this helps you a bit. |
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anon128052
Post 1 |
My mother has recently gone into a nursing home. She has macular degeneration but good hearing. She has now started to "hear" conversations along the hall which she believes are my sister and myself arguing about her. Today she is hearing me outside the home shouting that I hate her! She thinks I am staying in the home and not going to see her and have left a recording of myself so she can speak to me when she rings. She has also seen my sister and myself in coffins in a neighbouring room. Obviously, she is very depressed and frightened by these thoughts which she is aware are not real - although she says they are more real than everyday stuff. How can we (or can we) reassure her and should we be very sympathetic and listen attentively, matter of fact and say now Mum you know that's not true, don't really know how to handle it. Mum has morphine patches for the pain of rheumatoid arthritis and is inclined not to drink enough which makes her dehydrated and gives her cystitis, both of which I know have given her hallucinations in the past - but this is different. The carers are very good at making sure she drinks plenty. |
