My 80 year old mother has dementia and she has become very paranoid. I know that might sound funny because oftentimes paranoia is used in strange ways to define people, but I really mean it.
2007-10-01 21:03:27 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Senior Citizens
Unfortunately yes. What is even worse is when the paranoia becomes so predominant that they slip over into psychotic behaviour--acting out at the people they perceive as threats.
I experienced this when I was taking care of my (then) 90 year old father. His paranoia consumed him, and you could not get him to believe that everyone wasn't "out to get him" including ME who had been taking care of him full-time for seven years up to that point.
I didn't realise that his paranoia had slipped into a real psychosis until he tried to kill me one morning. I successfully dealt with that without any blood being spilt by confronting him and making him back down on his own. And then as soon as his office opened, I was asking his primary care physician what I could do about this latest problem.
He prescribed a liquid anti-psychotic drug (Risperidal - sp?) and suggested I add it to my father's food twice a day. It worked absolute wonders with him. Of course there was a bit of time where we needed to experiment to get the dosage just right, but the change in my father's behaviour was marked, and very welcome, almost right from the very first day.
By the end of two weeks he was actually SMILING most of the time, and I hadn't seen a smile on his face in years. It was NICE! Because of the administration of this one drug, I had a chance to get reacquainted with my Dad for the first time in years, because he wasn't hiding away avoiding "those people".
2007-10-02 01:22:39 · answer #1 · answered by Susie Q 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Paranoia In The Elderly
2016-11-14 07:29:23 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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I can't speak as someone with a parent with Dementia, but I can speak as a grandchild who watched her mother deal with this for years. First, let me say how sorry I am that this is happening. It's so hard to watch someone you love become someone unrecognizable. While my grandparents were too far progressed (Alzheimer's and literally hundreds of strokes) to allow for any of my family members to be in denial, that didn't mean they didn't ignore it. Sometimes, people are so self-centered that they focus on what the situation does to THEM, rather than thinking about the people who are affected most. They think, "this is too hard for me to see and to deal with, so it's easier to pretend that nothing is wrong." There's really nothing you can do, as long as your family members choose to act this way. Maybe one day they will come around, maybe not. Perhaps it would be helpful to have them sit down with a Dr. who can explain what dementia does to a person, and what type of things are to be expected. If it comes from an authoritative source, it might carry more weight. Also, there might be support groups in your area for people who are in the same boat as you. It might help just to get together with them, and help you see that you're not alone. I wish I had more to offer, but there's really no solution for this kind of thing. Hang in there, and know that even though your parent may not show you appreciation for what you do, they do love you and know what you're doing for them. Good luck.
2016-04-17 03:40:38 · answer #3 · answered by Caitlin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That happened to my grandmother when she had dementia in the months before she died. She thought her granddaughter (my cousin) was stealing money from her purse, that her daughter (my aunt) was trying to push her out of her house so she (daughter) could take it over. The saddest part was she thought that her husband on 62 years (my grandpa) was cheating on her with bimbos. None of it ever happened; it was all in my grandma's deluded imagination. Some people in my family thought all the wild accusations, especially my 90 year old grandpa taking bimbos home, was funny, but it was really sad.
Paranoia seems to go with dementia often, and the saddest part was that my poor grandma wouldn't trust anybody in the end.
2007-10-01 21:31:59 · answer #4 · answered by Wintergirl 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes it does, Dementia , by definition is very confusing and scary. I'm sure u hear things like "what r U ding (2 me)" Why R -U doing this 2 me,?" "I'm calling the cops!" Even if it doesn't seem to help @ the time keep reminding her that she is safe with U. Has she been "reliving an event from her past over and over? Often they will get stuck on an event that caused them a great deal of guilt and they are desperately seeking forgiveness for it (even if it wasn't there fault). Play along like your there in the past with her and let her know she is for given. She is from a time when they Truly believed that she would burn in hell for this thing and she may be terrified to die! Repeat the "your forgiven theme " a 1000 times if that what it takes.Stay Strong.....
2007-10-01 21:39:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Here's a link to information that might help.
http://www.caregiver.com/articles/general/paranoia_know_signs.htm
I agree that it is very sad, when people we love have dementia. The paranoia makes them terriably uncomfortable, and afraid. The person is not trying to be difficult, they truly see and hear things in their minds that make them feel that what they believe, others are doing to them is real.
2007-10-02 03:17:32 · answer #6 · answered by kayboff 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it very often occurs as one of the steps in mental decline. Medication can help some people. Usually toward the end of life there will one person who will be trusted.
My friend, of whom I write of here quite often was put on a patch for alzheimers and on an antianxiety drug last week. She beleives men are sneaking into her attic and under her house and sleeping. She thinks they also are stealing her food. We take her supper every night and administer her meds. But are also in the process of helping her get into assisted living as she does not trust her family or church any longer.
My father in law did not trust my husband yet he spent every waking moment with me. He only took meds from me.
I have known other people to become quite violent during the paranoid phase. So please ask for help. Don't be hurt as your mother truly cannot help it.
2007-10-02 03:20:33 · answer #7 · answered by Southern Comfort 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes , this does happen especially if they can't find something. they think people are hiding their things on purpose. I hope she sees a doctor because there are medications that are specifcally for this problem . I hope you also realize that some people that answer have their tongue planted fimly in their cheek. Its all in good fun and meant to lighten the mood.
2007-10-02 05:35:53 · answer #8 · answered by Donna 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What -- paranoia? Who are you, how did you find out about me and my state of affairs, is that you choking my dog, did you pick all my roses last week? Did you call and hang up on me after you breathed in the phone? Did you sell my new sewing machine, I can't find it. Stay away from my washing machine, you'll just break it? Get out of that cupboard I know you are going to sell all of my fine china! Nope I never noticed it!! ;0)
2007-10-01 23:57:31 · answer #9 · answered by lilabner 6 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Yes this happened to my mum, she thought I was trying to poison her, and that I was stealing her generally, so sad to see a intelligent human being go down hill this way, it broke my heart.
2007-10-02 01:37:43 · answer #10 · answered by Little miss naughty 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋