Is my grandmother going senile?

Question

My grandmother (81 years old) has been staying with us for the past few months, and she's been a pretty tolerable person until recently, she's a sweet old lady... but lately she's been acting incredibly rude.. and acting very strangely.

My father has caught her going into my room an going through my things (my medicine, my clothes, my personal items..etc)

She keeps insulting my father, and accusing him of not doing things correctly.

She's constantly forgetting my name, and my stepmother's name.

She's starting to make up lies about me and tell stories, she's saying I leave the house and I leave all the televisions on and I forget to turn off lights.. I work late, and my father started believing her, until recently when the lies got stranger and stranger and it became more obvious that she was telling stories.

This morning though, she started screaming at the top of her lungs at my father and my stepmother. Why? The dog was asleep in my father's room, my grandma normally gets up around 3am and takes the dog out.. the dog was asleep in the room and she couldn't get to her to take her out. She accused me and my father of not taking care of the dog because when he got up, he didn't take the dog out right away. (Last night I was very ill and my blood pressure was dangerously low, so the first thing he did when I got up was check my blood presure and heart rate, if it got any lower.. he was going to take me to the ER.) Then she started yelling at me saying that I don't take the dog outside to go to the bathroom enough. Then she started complaining that all I ever do is sleep, and it was all my fault etc. Then she said she hoped the dog died soon.

Now, she seems fine.. she's laughing and smiling again and watching television.

Do you think she might be going senile? I'm kind of worried about her...

Answer 1

Yes, this is normal adult senility. Did she come to stay with you because it would be easier for your family to care for her? If so, then your family understands that she's getting older and can't care for herself as well as she used to. It can be a difficult and stressful time for you as well as for her. She'll be very confused when she can't remember your names. It can also make her angry because she knows that she should "know" these things.

Try to be understanding. Sometimes just asking the person about how they met their husband, what were things like when you were a child?...when you were a little girl, what was your most favorite toy? Did you have a pet? These things can help the person remember things and also engage you and her in constructive conversation. these are the days you should want to ask her about all the things you'll want to know later...like your heritage. She knows those ancestors better than anyone else.

Don't be a pest about those things, but an occasional question like that will show you're interested in her life and conversing with her.

Answer 2

At 81, some form of dementia is very likely, but a doctor should make that determination. However, as stated by some of the other contributors, there are other factors, such as effects of medications, which can cause a change in mental status. For instance, if she has been placed on a medication for incontinence recently, this might be contributing to the problem. Other things that can cause demetia-like behavior could be a urinary tract infection (or other infection) and even dehydration. Diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons are progressive. There are medications which will help but not cure. From experience with my own mother, many times their irritable behavior is brought on because they remember things differently from what actually took place, and you usually will not convince them otherwise. A word of caution: While she is living with you, be very aware of the dangers if this is a progressive senility disorder (hopefully it is something simple that can be resolved). When I was caring for my mother, she would try to cook in the middle of the night and leave burners on and even started a fire once -- and never realized that she had! Before you label your grandmother with any of these diagnoses, make sure a doctor does a "thorough" examination with specific testing. Let the doctor diagnose and treat, and be as patient as possible during her remaining days. Good luck and God bless.

Answer 3

At her age there are many things that could be causing these issues - senility, stroke, poor vascular health/heart, and mental illness.

Take your grandmother to a physician who specializes in gerentology! That physician will be able to evaluate her needs through yours descriptions (take what you wrote her) or other tests. There are some very effective medications if the problem is aging and senility or even dementia.

In the meantime, arguing with her about things like who turned on the TV or leaving her alone may only cause further problems. If she is experiencing dementia, then she is confused and probably becomes upset/angry when she cannot remember something, etc.

Get her to a doctor ASAP

Answer 4

Sounds like Alzheimer's -- the personality changes suggest that: sudden hostility and paranoia, which comes and goes without warning or apparent reason.

Get her to a doctor, as there are treatments that slow down the progress of this disorder.

(Or it might be something else, which a doctor can figure out and may be able to treat.)

The word 'senile' isn't very useful, as it's a catch-phrase that covers a lot of different things. Now that we understand things better, there are more specific terms for specific conditions.

But get her checked out. There may be things that can be done about her condition.

Answer 5

I am sorry you have to go through that, its probably the onset of Alzheimer's, or maybe a mixture of medications.
Some people will drastically change, like some of the things that you mentioned about her behavior, I have seen people go to opposite extremes, where they were nice all there life, never uttered a curse word, and then, all of a sudden one day just start cursing and calling people all kinds of names, and vice verse, they might be mean most of their life, and turn to be a more gentle person,a lot of times they turn on the one who is caring for them.

Answer 6

it could be the onset of Alzheimer's for her=you will have to try and be gentle with her =she might even need to be in a nursing home=check this out with the family Dr

Answer 7

Its possible she is getting senile, also she sometimes when old people loose some of their independence it makes them feel bad that they have to depend on people. She might be angry that she doesnt have her very own place to live in anymore.

Answer 8

yeah unfortunately. dont wory my grandma is 82 and she is a sweet lady but she just doesnt realize what she says and how offensive it is to my father or mother. it is part of getting older and the only thing to do is to humor her.

Answer 9

I think she needs to see a doctor as soon as possible.

It sounds like the onset of senile dementia.

HTH.