Paranoia In Old People

[johnk]

My Mum is 88 and living in protected accomodation. Lately she has stated sitting in the dark with the blinds drawn "because people are looking in the windows" she also said that the woman upstairs sneaked into her flat and changed her alarm clock, when asked why the woman should do this she said it was because the woman wants to get rid of her so that the woman can have her flat. Has anyone had any experience of this sort of thing and can you advise me what to do.

[scorpiojo]

Can you speak to her GP about this?

[hellywelly4]

I think I would have a word with your mum's doctor if you can. You could also ask the warden (if there is one there) whether they have noticed a change in your mum's behaviour.

[Patsy33]

Is she on medication? Sometimes side effects can cause strange behaviour in the elderly.

[Buenchico]

Possibly worth a read:
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/healthy-living/virginia-ironsidersquos-dilemmas-my-eighty-year-old-mother-has-bouts-of-paranoia-1690305.html

[johnk]

She's on various medication but she has been on them for a while. The warden told me about her sitting in the dark. I will see her GP about this
Thanks everyone

[petal54]

sounds just like my 88 year old mum!

[MallyJ]

This sounds a bit like himselfs mother in the early stages of alzheimers... she got very worried about the people on the tv and didn't like me at all as I had become the woman for whom her husband left her many years previously. Having said that it could be something as simple as dehydration....would start with ensuring fluids are drunk regularly.

[johnk]

Mally, you could be right, she's had problems with dehydration before, thanks

[ethandron]

Dehydration and urine infections can cause horrendous dementia like problems in elderly folk. Once those two issues are properly addressed things can quickly return to normal.

[jennyjoan]

My cousin (a nun) visited me about 2 years ago and to me was in the early stages of dementia with the carry-on of her. However it was dehydration - I never knew this myself.

[ummmm]

The doctor put my nan on anti depressants because she wasn't drinking or eating enough. The ones he put her on increased appetite.