Hallucinations

Some people with CJD 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. Try to redirect your loved one from the hallucination to a soothing activity
3. Limit environmental activity and noise
4. Use a calm quiet approach and create a quiet environment
5. Keep areas well lit so things in the room are not misidentified
6. Cover glass tables, mirrors and other pieces of furniture that have a high gloss and may create visual disturbances
7. Avoid the flickering, changing light of a TV which might prompt hallucinations
8. 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