Hallucinations and Alzheimer’s Disease

By Christine Kennard, Health Pro Monday, May 05, 2008
Hallucinations are not uncommon in Alzheimer's disease and usually occur in the middle/moderate stage of the disease. Hallucinations can affect any of the senses, so a person may hear, see, taste, touch or smell things that are not really there. Hallucinations occur without external stimulation and t...
5/ 5/08 2:36pm

Thanks very much Christine for your update on this topic.  I imagine these to be really upsetting when they happen - for caregivers and especially loved ones.  I hope people are able to act quickly and get the attention from their doctor that they should.

 

You can get additional information on how this disease pregresses in The Stages of Alzheimer's Disease.

 

Take care and all the best, sue (moderator)

 

10/11/10 4:34pm

Two weeks ago I was informed that my dear Nana has Alzheimers disease. Her & I are very close and what brings me writing here today is that the audiable hallucinations she is experiencing are very frightening to her, and all those around her. The doctor is aware and has not given us much help in this area apart from: "We'll give her something to help with the short term memory and something to sleep at night." Yeah thats great, but in the meantime how is that going to fix the hallucinations???

 

Pretty much every night at 10PM she hears a little girl outside of the house calling "Annie Kay I wanna come live it your house. The man keeps hurting me." No one has called her Annie Kay since she was born. She is known as "Teresa" Then she occassionally hears a mans voice telling the little girl to be quiet to leave my Nana alone.

 

We have checked with the family to see if their was any abuse growing up or a nieghborhood child that was abused, and there is nothing. My Nana wanted to call the Police and I had her convinced that until the little girl shows up at the front door and I can speak with her on the phone that we wouldnt get the police involved. Sadly she called the police one night and they came.. But apparently the imaginary little girl was taken away by an abulance. Thats what she told the Police and myself...

 

I really need some help here. I am in unchartered territory and dont know how to address this with her. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks reading

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By Christine Kennard, Health Pro— Last Modified: 06/19/12, First Published: 05/05/08