Behavior Guidance
Hallucinations and false beliefs in dementia
Hallucinations are real to the person experiencing them. Arguing rarely works. Knowing when they're harmless versus a medical emergency does.
Updated 2026-02-20
Types you may see
- Visual — seeing children, animals, or a deceased relative. Most common in Lewy body dementia.
- Auditory — hearing voices or music.
- Delusions — fixed false beliefs (a spouse is unfaithful, someone is stealing).
- Misidentification — calling you by their deceased sibling's name.
How to respond
- Don't argue with the content. "They look upsetting" beats "there's no one there."
- Look for the trigger — shadows, a TV in another room, low light.
- Change the channel — walk to a different room together.
- Reassure with presence and touch.
Frequently asked questions
- Should we tell the doctor about every hallucination?
- Yes — pattern matters. Visual + REM-sleep behavior + Parkinson features point toward Lewy body dementia, which changes treatment choices.
- Is a TV making it worse?
- Often, yes. People with dementia may experience TV scenes as happening in the room. Try music or audiobooks instead.
Every dementia journey is different.
Memory Lane Care helps you understand what applies to your loved one, what to expect next, and which resources fit your family's situation.
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Memory Lane connects every part of dementia care. Here's how this topic threads into the rest.
GUIDE
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