Hallucinations

A few people with FTD may see or hear things that no one else does or experience them differently than the others around them (hallucinations). It can frighten them.

Try this:

1. Avoid arguing or disagreeing with your loved one by denying the hallucination; try to be reassuring and comforting instead.
2. Avoid pretending you also see/hear the hallucination in order to make your loved one feel better.
3. It's okay to say, "I don't see/hear what you do, but I believe you are seeing/hearing it."
4. Try to redirect your loved one from the hallucination to a soothing activity.
5. Limit environmental activity and noise.
6. Use a calm quiet approach and create a quiet environment.
7. Keep areas well lit so things in the room are not misidentified.
8. Cover glass tables, mirrors and other pieces of furniture that have a high gloss and may create visual disturbances.
9. Avoid the flickering, changing light of a TV which might prompt hallucinations.
10. Turn off a television, radio, or computer if you think that is causing the hallucination – your loved one may not be able to tell the difference between entertainment and reality.