If your loved one living with dementia says they see people in the room, animals on the floor, or unfamiliar figures near the doorway, it can be deeply unsettling—for them and for you.
When What Your Loved One is Seeing Feels Real—But isn't
You may wonder:
At Full Bloom Memory Care®, we often support families through this exact moment. Understanding the difference between hallucinations and misperceptions can help you respond with confidence, compassion, and calm—rather than fear or frustration.
Visual disturbances are surprisingly common in many forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, Parkinson’s disease dementia, and vascular dementia.
To your loved one, what they’re seeing feels completely real.
To you, it may feel alarming, heartbreaking, or even frightening.
Without guidance, families may unintentionally:
But there is a better way to handle these moments.
Although they may look similar on the surface, hallucinations and misperceptions are not the same—and understanding the difference matters.
What Are Hallucinations?
Hallucinations occur when the brain creates an image that is not actually present in the environment.
Your loved one may:
Hallucinations are especially common in Lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s disease dementia, but they can also occur in later stages of Alzheimer’s.
Importantly: hallucinations are not deliberate, imagined, or “made up.” They are a neurological symptom of the disease.
What Are Misperceptions?
Misperceptions happen when the brain incorrectly interprets something that is actually there.
Common examples include:
Misperceptions are often triggered by:
Dementia affects how the brain processes visual information. Even when eyesight is physically intact, the brain may struggle to interpret what the eyes see.
Contributing factors may include:
This is why a calm, supportive environment—and a knowledgeable care team—can make a profound difference.
How to Respond with Compassion and Confidence
At Full Bloom, we guide families to respond in ways that reduce distress rather than escalate it.
Here’s what helps:
Acknowledge the Experience
Instead of correcting, try validating emotions:
Avoid Arguing or Convincing
Saying “That’s not real” may increase fear or agitation.
Gently Redirect
Offer reassurance or shift focus:
Modify the Environment
Small changes can make a big difference:
Track Patterns
Noting when visual disturbances occur can help identify triggers like fatigue, hunger, or overstimulation.
With the right approach, many visual disturbances become less frightening and less disruptive—even if they don’t disappear entirely.
At Full Bloom, our Memory Care Partners are trained to:
Our goal is not just safety—but dignity, emotional ease, and a sense of security in everyday life.
Seeing your loved one struggle with visual disturbances can be heartbreaking. But you don’t have to navigate this alone.
Whether your family is:
We’re here to help you understand what’s happening—and what to do next.