Behaviour & Distress
Dementia and seeing or hearing things: how can I respond?
Focus on how the person feels rather than arguing about what they perceive. Stay calm and ask whether they feel frightened. New hallucinations or sudden confusion need prompt medical assessment; immediate danger needs local emergency help, not a conversation with Hugo.
You could try: “That sounds unsettling. I’m here with you.”
Hugo is the guide inside The Dementia Assistant, helping you explore dementia questions in more detail.
General educational guidance, not individual medical advice or an emergency service.
Explore this question with Hugo on The Dementia Assistant®. Hugo can help you consider the topic in more detail: “A person with dementia is seeing or hearing things that other people do not. How should I respond, and when should I seek urgent help?”