1. What Is a Hallucination?
A hallucination---sometimes called sensory hallucination---is the abnormal sensory perception, usually of auditory or visual nature, that happens when an individual is awake and conscious. There are no real triggers to these perceptions. In other words, a person is seeing and or hearing things that aren't there. These hallucinations can come as hearing voices even though no one has spoken, seeing lights and patterns or other beings that are not real, or even feeling a crawling sensation on the skin. Hallucinations involving taste and smell are rare.
2. Causes of Hallucination in the Elderly
While there are many causes of hallucination some are more applicable to the elderly population. Elderly individuals can suffer from hallucinations associated with delirium or dementia, fever as well as blindness or deafness. Elderly people may also suffer hallucinations in connection with severe illnesses---brain cancer, liver or kidney failure---or changes to their medications. There is also several psychiatric diagnoses that can accompany hallucinations. Hallucinations can be part of the grieving process---hearing or seeing a loved one who has recently passed may be normal. Drugs and alcohol use and abuse can cause hallucinations, as well as withdrawal from these substances and should be looked at if all other causes in the elderly have been explored.
3. Don't Leave Them Alone
Individuals suffering from hallucinations may become easily scared, agitated, anxious or even paranoid and should not be left alone. People experiencing hallucinations can sometimes be linked with a detachment to reality---these individuals should seek medical attention immediately. Many times hallucinations are associated with emergency medical situations that can rapidly deteriorate. Individuals who are experiencing hallucinations should be seen by a health care provider immediately and a full exam should take place.
4. Chalres Bonnet Syndrome
Charles Bonnet syndrome is a medical condition where individuals with vision problems begin to experience visual hallucinations. This condition is usually seen in the elderly who have severe vision loss. An elderly individual diagnosed with Charles Bonnet Syndrome will experience visual hallucinations to varying degrees. They may begin to see lines across their visual field, see birds flying or other objects that are not real and present. Changing a patient's environment, like improving lighting, may decrease hallucinations. As a patient loses more vision the hallucinations may also decrease.
5. Real Hallucinations?
Elderly people may fall victim to sensory abnormalities such as nightmares, vision changes, delirium and dementia as well as an aura seen before a migraine or possible fainting and delusions. It is important to decipher between these sensory disruptions and true real hallucinations. Delusions are common with many psychiatric disorders and are often coupled with hallucinations. Delusions are however, not abnormal sensory input, but refer to a patient's mind, reasoning and thought process.
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