Hallucinations in older people can manifest themselves through sensory experiences such as seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling or tasting things that are not present. In addition to these symptoms, it is possible to present strange behaviors or disorientation.
Usually, these hallucinations can be related to various medical conditions such as dementia, major depression or other neuropsychiatric disorders.
If you are worried about this situation in a family member or close friend and you cannot fully understand what they are experiencing or how to help them, we will immediately explain what causes hallucinations in older people and how to treat them.
Types of hallucinations in older people
Hallucinations in older people are perceptions that occur without a physical stimulus that causes them, that is, it is something that does not exist, although for those who perceive them it can be very realistic, to the point of not understanding that they are hallucinating.
Hallucination should not be confused with illusion, since illusion is a misinterpretation of an external stimulus that does exist. For example, seeing someone who is not present (hallucination) is not the same as seeing your daughter and thinking she is your wife (illusion).
There are different types of hallucinations, depending on the sense with which they are perceived. Thus, they can be:
Visual hallucinations
Visual hallucinations in older people consist of seeing things that are not present, such as people, animals, objects or lights. These can be simple, such as flashes of light, or complex, such as seeing people or entire scenes.
Auditory hallucinations
This type of hallucinations consists of hearing sounds, voices, music or other noises that have no real source. These voices can be friendly, neutral, or even hostile.
Tactile hallucinations
They consist of feeling that something is touching the skin, such as tingling, itching, burning, or even the sensation that something is moving under the skin.
Olfactory and gustatory hallucinations
In these types of hallucinations in older people, odors or flavors are perceived that are not present and that are generally unpleasant, such as smoke, rot or the smell of chemicals, or strange flavors in food or drinks.
Somatic hallucinations
In this case, the hallucination is related to the perception of a physical experience, such as sensations of internal or external movement of the body, feeling that the body is empty or that parts of the body are moving. This is, perhaps, the least common hallucination in older people.
Nocturnal hallucinations
This type of hallucinations in older people are visual, auditory, tactile or even somatic perceptions that occur at night during the transitions between wakefulness and sleep. Examples of this may be the feeling of imminent threat, suffocation, floating, spinning or falling. As is logical to think, nocturnal hallucinations can cause a lot of anxiety in the person who suffers them and also in their caregiver. In addition, they prevent the elderly person from being able to rest and have a good quality of life, influencing their mood.
What causes hallucinations in older people?
Hallucinations can begin at any age, but they are more common in the elderly. This is because hallucinations in older people are due to a combination of physical, cognitive and psychological factors. Firstly, with aging, the brain undergoes structural and functional changes that can predispose to the appearance of hallucinations. These changes can affect sensory perception and interpretation of reality.
In addition, medical conditions more common in older people, such as dementia or sleep disorders, can contribute to hallucinations. Also psychiatric disorders, such as depression and schizophrenia, are more common in older people and may be associated with hallucinations.
On the other hand, the loss of vision and hearing that occurs with age can cause erroneous perceptions and secondary confusion.
In addition, changes in brain chemistry, medication side effects and metabolic disorders may also play a role in the occurrence of hallucinations in older people due to imbalance of brain neurotransmitters.
Due to the accumulation of multiple risk factors with age, such as changes at the level of the Central Nervous System, chronic diseases and the presence of multiple medical conditions, as well as frailty and physical vulnerability, they can increase the likelihood that an older person will experience hallucinations.
Main causes of hallucinations in older people
The causes of hallucinations in older people are many and very varied.The most common of all is dementia, as is the case of Alzheimer, but, in addition, hallucinations can be favored by:
- Infections.
- Metabolic disorders, such as dehydration, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, and hypoxia.
- Cardiovascular diseases, such as arrhythmias, heart failure or myocardial infarction.
- Neurological disorders, such as head trauma, seizures, and stroke.
- Adverse reaction to medications.
- Stressful situations.
- Chronic pain.
- Social and emotional isolation with affectation of mood.
Treatment for hallucinations in the elderly
Treatment for hallucinations in older adults depends on the underlying cause, and may include a combination of medical, psychological, and lifestyle approaches:
- Medical treatment of the underlying cause, such as dementia, can help reduce the hallucinatory impact.
- Medicines to control hallucinations, such as antipsychotics, especially in severe ones or those that significantly interfere with quality of life.
- Psychological therapy to help older people deal with stress, anxiety, and other emotional factors that may contribute to hallucinations.
- Occupational therapy to keep the person active and engaged in activities and games, promoting states of relaxation and reduction of stress and the feeling of loneliness.
- Lifestyle changes, such as increasing physical activity and reducing stress, can help improve cognitive function. We must also ensure that he interacts with other people and that he has a calm, calm and safe environment.
Care for older people who suffer hallucinations in NAMI
The multidisciplinary approach can be very effective in treating those older people who experience hallucinations. That is why we treat hallucinations in older people through the coordinated work of our health team and its different specialties. From the care of our doctors and nurses, to psychologists and social workers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and nutritionists.
