is paranoi a symptom of dementia for elderly?

Question

my elderly friend is getting more and more paranoi about everything, he even thinks people (including me) will push him off the belcony, what should i do? is this normal?

Answer 1

I’m one of the writers for Gilbert Guide (the foremost resource for everything senior care) and I’ve done quite a bit of research on dementia and its symptoms—one of which is paranoia. Many people with dementia start to believe that people are plotting against them, causing them to become fearful and hesitant to accept help. Oftentimes, someone with dementia is unaware of their memory impairment, which can lead to terrifying situations; i.e.: why is that not where I left it? Who stole my clothes (when in reality, he himself put them in the hamper)? Becoming suspicious of someone else is an easy way of explaining the unexplainable. The person may also grow suspicious of you if you contradict something he believes to be true. If, for example, he mentions his wife, who died years ago, is on the way over, and you tell him she’s dead and not coming, he may suspect you of lying—or worse, causing her harm.

There are certain things you can do to alleviate symptoms overall and hopefully help with the paranoia.

•Therapeutic lying “Your wife’s not going to be here for an hour or two. Let’s take a walk down the street.”
•Make sure the lighting is adequate to help prevent disorientation
•Try not to visit too many unfamiliar environments. If you take him to the Empire State Building, which is crowded, new and scary even for some people without dementia, he very well may fear you’re going to push him.
•Try to limit sensory overload. If too many things are going on at once, it may cause agitation.
•If he wears glasses or a hearing aid, remind him to use them. If his senses are impaired, it will be challenging to recognize visual cues.
•Don’t speak to him like a child, but use short, direct sentences to avoid confusion.
•Try to respond to emotional things he says. He may get frustrated if he feels you don’t understand his feelings, and this can put a rift in his trust.
•Use statements instead of questions whenever possible if you see him getting frustrated.
•Don’t assume all his suspicions are unfounded. Sometimes, he may be right
•Monitor the paranoia symptoms—do they frequently occur at night or in the presence of a particular person? It will be easier to address the situation if you get an idea of the causes.

It can be very scary when someone you once knew so well seems to “turn on” you—both for him, and for you (it can’t feel good to have a friend suspect you of pushing him off a building.) I commend you for seeking ways to help him and maintain your friendship.

Best of luck,
The Gilbert Guide Team

Answer 2

Dementia (from Latin de- "apart, away" + mens (genitive mentis) "mind") is the progressive decline in cognitive function due to damage or disease in the brain beyond what might be expected from normal aging. Particularly affected areas may be memory, attention, language and problem solving, although particularly in the later stages of the condition, affected persons may be disoriented in time (not knowing what day of the week, day of the month, what month or even what year it is), place (not knowing where they are) and person (not knowing who they are). Symptoms of dementia can be classified as either reversible or irreversible depending upon the etiology of the disease. Less than 10% of all dementias are reversible. Dementia is a non-specific term that encompasses many disease processes, just as fever is attributable to many etiologies.
Without careful assessment, delirium can easily be confused with dementia and a number of other psychiatric disorders because many of the signs and symptoms are conditions present in dementia. ( as well as other mental illnesses including depression and psychosis}.

Answer 3

you want to be a positive influence for your friend

first, get your own life in order
ground yourself in the single principle so that your behaviour is wholesome and effective
if you do that, you will earn respect and be a powerful influence to your elderly friend

your behaviour will influence your friend through a ripple effect
a ripple effect works because everyone influences everyone else
powerful people are powerful influences


remember that your influence begins with you and ripples outward

so be sure that your influence is both potent and wholesome


"How will you know if this works?"


all growth spreads outward from a fertile and potent nucleus.


You are a nucleus




You asked, "What should I do?"

Answer 4

Parinoia is a symptom of age related dementia. Sufferers think that people are stealing from them, some of the actually starve themselves to death because they think that their caretakers are trying to poison them. Get him to a doctor quickly or get a behavioral health crisis intervention intake councilor to evaluate him at his home.

Answer 5

Paranoia and delusions are common in elderly people with dementia.

Answer 6

It can be a symptom. What you can do for your frined is to deal with him in as positive a way as you possibly can. Treat him well. Get him some help.

Answer 7

yes dementia is a Vitamins deficiency..it is caused sometime because of malnutrition...they need some help see to it that he or she gets some help they are dangerous to you and them self..if caught early enough it can be helped they forget to eat...and their brain is not getting the vitamins that it needs God bless this person and get them some help before it is to late...

Answer 8

It is a symptom. They think everyone is out to get them, get their money, etc. Have them evaluated and committed. They will only get worse.