When Your Parent Hears Voices That Aren't There: The First Signs of Parkinson's Dementia
'There's Someone in the Attic'
'Shh… do you hear that?' my mother whispered, her finger raised to her lips. 'There's someone in the attic.' Those words marked the beginning of our journey into Parkinson's dementia.
The Reality of Parkinson's Disease Dementia
Up to 80% of people with Parkinson's eventually develop some form of dementia. The hallucinations often start small — shadows, sounds, whispers — before becoming more elaborate.
What I Did Wrong (And What I Wish I'd Known)
She wasn't asking me if the sounds were real. She was asking me to believe that her fear was real. I wish I'd understood that sooner.
What Parkinson's Dementia Hallucinations Actually Look Like
Visual hallucinations: people, patterns moving, familiar objects transforming, little people. Auditory hallucinations: footsteps, voices, music.
How I Learned to Respond
Validate the feeling, not the content. Reassure them they're safe. Redirect to something grounding. And above all, be patient.