Hallucinations & Delusions
The 30 sources listed below are each rated on how they can help caregivers better understand and deal with hallucinations & delusions in people with Alzheimer's disease or dementia.
Sources are ranked from highest to lowest.
Sources are ranked from highest to lowest.
ALZSmart Score™ - Excellent85%
Alzheimer's Society
Geo Location: All (UK)
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
This is part 1 of a 7 part series: 1) Perception and hallucinations, 2) Causes of visuoperceptual difficulties, 3) Visuoperceptual difficulties in people with dementia, 4) Supporting someone with visuoperceptual difficulties, 5) Hallucinations in people with dementia, 6) Treatment for hallucinations, and 7) UK resources.
ALZSmart Score™ - Excellent85%
Coping With Behavior Change in Dementia: A Family Caregiver's Guide
Beth Spencer and Laurie White
Pages 95-102
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Begins with definitions and examples of paranoia, delusions, and hallucinations. Has 11 bullet point on possible physical, medical, and emotional causes and 7 strategies for handling them. 9 bullet points of environmental cause and 9 strategies to deal with them. 23 communications tips and strategies. Plus 5 other considerations for paranoia, delusions, and hallucinations.
ALZSmart Score™ - Very Good70%
Surviving Alzheimer's (2nd Edition)
Paula Spencer Scott
Pages 183-188
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Begins with examples of hallucinations. Discusses why it happens. Has 10 bullet points on things to try. Another section on delusions begins with examples and why it happens. Has 10 things to try; plus a couple of ways to cope with delusions.
ALZSmart Score™ - Very Good70%
A Caregiver's Guide to Dementia
Laura N. Gitlin, PhD and Catherine Verrier Piersol, PhD, OTR/L
Pages 89-90
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Defines hallucinations and delusions and why they might occur. Has 8 common triggers. 15 strategies for handling distressing beliefs. Also haas 6 changes to home environment.
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%
UCLA Alzheimer's and Dementia Program
Linda Ercoli, PhD
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
[Video 4:03] Scenario-based video that shows a caregiver and her mother dealing with hallucinations. The video has four parts: common response, expert explanation, recommended reponse, plus 6-8 tips for dealing with hallucinations.
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%
WebMD
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Has 10 bullet points on when to call your doctor or go to the emergency room. Lists 8 bullet points on causes of hallucinations and delusions. 7 things you can do at home if they become upset.
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%
Aging Care
Carol Bradley Bursack
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Uses the validation approach to deal with altered reality in people with dementia.
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%
Daily Caring
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Discusses the causes of hallucinations in dementia patients. Has 10 ways to respond when someone is experiencing dementia hallucinations.
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%
Alzheimer’s Research Association
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Reviews causes of hallucinations and how to respond. [Video 5:12] Embedded video discusses 5 causes, 5 strategies, and 3 things to consider when responding.
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%
Dementia Australia
Geo Location: All (AU)
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Defines hallucinations, paranoia, and delusions. Has 10 factors which may cause behaviours. 15 bullet points on things you can try.
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%
Ahead of Dementia
Luciana Mitzkun
Pages 197-200
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Discusses the differences betweeen hallucinations and delusions. Provides examples, ways to respond, and treatment options. 10 tips on the biggest mistakes in dealing with hallucinations. Plus has 7 bullet points on notes to bring to doctors.
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%
Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias: The Caregiver's Complete Survival Guide
Nataly Rubinstein, MSW, LCSW, C-ASWCM
Pages 223-229
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Discusses paranoia, delusions, and halluciantions. Has 5 tips, thoughts, and suggestions for dealing with these behaiors.
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%
Alzheimer's Basic Caregiving: An ABC Guide
Kathy Laurenhue, MA
Pages 127-135
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Begins with delusions and uses examples to discuss key issues. Shows how paranoia tends to blame others and may be based in fear. Looks for explanations for hallucinations and the possible need for medications.
ALZSmart Score™ - Average55%
Alzheimer's Association
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Describes the type of things to expect when people with Alzheimer's have delusions. Has 6 bullet points on how to respond.
ALZSmart Score™ - Good55%
Alzheimer's Association
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Explains hallucinations that may result from Alzheimer's and also other causes. Has 9 tips on coping strategies.
ALZSmart Score™ - Average55%
National Institute on Aging
Geo Location: All (US)
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Defines hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia. Has 5 tips for coping with hallucinations and delusions; plus a short :53 second embedded video. 10 bullet points on paranoia related to memory loss.
ALZSmart Score™ - Good55%
Aging Care
Candace Rotolo
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Explains dementia related hallucinations and 5 tips to manage them.
ALZSmart Score™ - Average55%
Alzheimer Society Canada
Geo Location: All (CA)
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Defines delusions and hallucinations. Lists 6 possible causes. Has 14 ways to respond to delusions and hallucinations.
ALZSmart Score™ - Average55%
AlzLive
Vanessa Milne
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Interview style article that addresses key questions regarding the causes and responses to hallucinations in a person with Alzheimer's.
ALZSmart Score™ - Average55%
Confidence to Care (aka Home Instead)
Molly Carpenter
Pages 50-54
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Examines why delusions happens. Has 8 bullet points for care approaches. Offers examples of how to communicate with a person who is dealing with delusions. Ends with 3 tips on prevention.
ALZSmart Score™ - Average45%
Dementia Care Central (National Institute on Aging)
Geo Location: All (US)
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Defines hallucinations and delusions, then discusses causes. Has 9 tips for caregivers. Also has treatments and medications.
ALZSmart Score™ - Average45%
HelpforAlzheimersFamilies.com (aka Home Instead Senior Care)
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Uses examples to illustrate delusions in people with dementia. Has 6 tips for caring for someone who is experiencing delusions.
ALZSmart Score™ - Average45%
The 36-Hour Day (6th Edition)
Nancy L. Mace, MA and Peter V. Rabins, MD, MPH
Pages 187-188
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Discusses the nature of delusions and hallucinations. How to look for causes that might trigger hallucinations. Appropriate responses to delusions and hallucinations.
ALZSmart Score™ - Average45%
Creating Moments of Joy (5th Edition)
Jolene Brackey
Pages 120-121
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Focuses on things to consider that might cause hallucinations. Finding responses that are part of the person's experience.
ALZSmart Score™ - Average45%
Thoughtful Dementia Care: Understanding the Dementia Experience
Jennifer Ghent-Fuller
Pages 109-120
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Examples-based review of common delusions in people with dementia. Details several cases of illusions. Discusses many examples of hallucinations in dementia patients.
ALZSmart Score™ - Average45%
Alzheimer's Through the Stages: A Caregiver's Guide
Mary Moller, MSW, CAS
Pages 91-92
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Gives examples of hallucinations and ways to respond.
ALZSmart Score™ - Satisfactory35%
HelpGuide
Melinda Smith M.A., Jeanne Segal, Ph.D., and Monika White, Ph.D.
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
This multiple topic article begins with a section on common causes. That's followed by a section on creating a calming environment About 3/4 of the way down the web page there's a section specifically on hallucinations and suspicion.
ALZSmart Score™ - Satisfactory35%
VeryWell Health
Esther Heerema, MSW
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Offers 4 ways of responding to hallucinations. Discusses treatment options.
ALZSmart Score™ - Satisfactory35%
When Reasoning No Longer Works (2nd Edition)
Angel Smits
Pages 149-151
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Discusses the difference in responding to harmless and upsetting delusions. Has 6 bullet points on a checklist regarding their health.
ALZSmart Score™ - Satisfactory25%
Understand Alzheimer's
Pages 63-65
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Looks at causes of hallucination and delusions. Has 3 bullet points on how to respond. Brief discuss of medications.
