Do you care for an elderly person who has become paranoid, agitated, and angry in recent years? If the answer is yes, you are not alone. There are many others sailing in the same boat. This is an article for everyone like you.
Here we have covered the symptoms and reasons for paranoia in the elderly. We have also mentioned how to deal with it through some of the gentlest, most understanding, and most empathetic steps.
Human beings are logic-driven creatures. When an elderly person shows symptoms of paranoia or delusions, it is natural to try to help them understand that their experiences and beliefs are imaginary. Logic can work in most situations in the world, but in the case of paranoia in the elderly, a logical approach is not always best.
Many psychiatrists, regardless of the person’s age, believe that it is unwise to explain the reasons for their experiences or refute them by questioning their existence.
Such explanations or rejections of the experience, even if true, not only frustrate the person but also make them suspect that you are not taking them seriously. And this may discourage them further and worsen their medical condition.
Our logical reality may not match what they are experiencing or feeling. Family members and caregivers may have to analyze these symptoms and mental conditions and distinguish them from minor behavioral changes or other medical conditions.
These psychiatric symptoms are called psychosis and are classified as hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia. Although these three elements may seem similar, they are defined differently in psychiatry.
Delusions refer to believing things that are not true or real, while hallucinations refer to seeing or hearing things that are not there. Paranoia differs from hallucinations and delusions because it originates from doubt.
Consider understanding the symptoms of paranoia in older people and how you, as a caregiver or family member, can identify them. Then, also revisit the significant causes of paranoia in older people.
Finally, we will again focus on how to deal with paranoia in older people.
How is it identified?
Psychosis is more common in older people because any of these symptoms can appear when the brain is not functioning normally. It is not easy to identify, although it may be for a number of reasons.
Paranoia may originate in suspicion of others, but it may not emerge clearly. Older people may experience various symptoms of paranoia, such as
- Seeing people who should not exist
- Hearing strange sounds or noises
- Feeling that others are saying bad things about them behind their backs
- Thinking that someone might steal money from you
- Thinking that someone is trying to kill you
- Showing extreme agitation or alertness
Analysis of these symptoms may reveal that some small coincidences are to blame. For example, strange noises may be due to wind tunnels or tree branches scratching buildings or others.
Similarly, seeing creatures that may not exist may be due to poor vision. Similarly, if a patient has the feeling that others are talking behind his or her back, this could be due to faulty hearing aids.
The environment in which the elderly live can also increase anxiety, agitation, and stress. These feelings can be further exacerbated if your loved one lives in a senior living facility instead of at home.
You may begin to feel that no one loves or cares about you. You may become anxious and paranoid and find it difficult to fit into your new living environment.
But regardless of your symptoms, analysis, and initial conclusions, how you communicate your findings is equally important. We will discuss how to address this issue later in this section. Before that, try to understand the most important reasons behind the elderly person’s paranoid behavior.
Why does it happen? What are the reasons behind paranoia?
Once you have identified the symptoms of paranoia, you can assess the underlying cause of the problem. The most common reasons behind paranoia may be one or more of the following
- Side effects of medications.
- Mental illness – dementia, cognitive impairment, depression or mood disorder, delirium, or Alzheimer’s disease.
- Internal physiological problems – vascular damage after stroke or head injury, urinary tract infection, or brain tumor.
How can you help them cope?
You may already notice one or more symptoms of paranoia in your loved one. However, these symptoms worsen over time and should not be neglected.
Before reaching a solution, you can seek help from a psychiatrist or other elder care professional. In evaluating possible treatments, it is also helpful to understand the following
- Is this the first time it has happened or has it happened before?
- What happened before it became suspicious?
- Did the observed place have the same or similar characteristics?
- Can the situation or place be changed to eliminate the possibility of suspicion?
- Is the person taking medication? If so, are the side effects mentioned? Discuss this with your doctor.
In addition, taking care of an elderly person can be very demanding, both physically and mentally. Therefore, one should not forget one’s health. As mentioned earlier, when analyzing reasons and symptoms, it is necessary to adopt a process of elimination.
This eliminates the possibility of physiological or environmental factors, such as hearing disorders, side effects of medications, or visual disturbances.
When dealing with paranoid elders, it is necessary to be calm, patient, understanding, and empathetic. Comfort the patient by emphasizing her tone of voice, but do not try to explain her logic.
You may need to be reasonable, analyze daily behavior and look for patterns. If you are not sure how to deal with the situation, seek advice and assistance from an elder care professional or physician.
If you cannot find anyone who has gone through a similar case, you might join an online forum to seek advice. You may know someone who has gone through or is going through a similar experience.
Nonverbal communication, such as a gentle touch, a hug, or a pat on the arm, can play an important role in these situations.
One thing that is never good when dealing with paranoia in older people is arguing with them. Therefore, avoid it. Do not take the patient’s negative words personally and acknowledge his or her anger and frustration.
Listen sincerely and show understanding. This will help the patient feel that their feelings have been acknowledged. Have them listen to music or take them for a walk or a drive.
Keep dangerous objects out of their reach and avoid making noise around them. Try to divert their attention. Make the environment familiar, keep the schedule predictable, and avoid making too many changes.
Entertain with humor. Never laugh at them, make fun of them or belittle their experiences.
If your loved one smokes or drinks, gently restrict them and make sure they get enough sleep. Encouraging independent behavior can reduce addiction and, ultimately, paranoia.
Also, monitor her diet and let her know regularly that you and the whole family love and care for her.
How to get outside help?
If you need outside help or medical advice, be sure to get the consent of your loved one first. However, this may not be easy because your loved one may have doubts about everyone. Therefore, here are some suggestions for starting the conversation.
Again, avoid bringing up logic, because their paranoia speaks a different language from your logic.
Also, logical reasoning may be the last thing to use when dealing with emotional topics, especially with people who have difficulty believing someone.
When you make suggestions, express them in such a way that it sounds like you are trying to help them, rather than to solve some problem.
A final tip is to start sentences with “I” rather than “we” and to talk about yourself. In this situation, “we” can give the feeling that it is at odds with many other people.
It may seem counter-intuitive, but these are important little tricks when dealing with difficult situations like this.
How to Deal With Elderly Paranoia | Infographics
How to Deal With Elderly Paranoia | Video Explanation
OVERVIEW
Without a doubt, trying to care for an older person who may not believe in you and be suspicious of everyone can be difficult. Nor is it always easy to love and care for someone who may at least appear to be so.
In such cases, it takes much more time and perseverance than you might expect. It is easy to succumb to similar pressures, so don’t take things personally.
Connect with others who are sailing in the same boat, either in person or online. Networking is a great way to learn from others’ experiences and get rid of the unwarranted guilt that arises when a situation is not approved as expected.
