As dementia progresses, you may notice your loved one exhibiting several challenging symptoms, such as delusions, hallucinations and paranoia. These can be very distressing for the individual and their loved ones, who may be accused of terrible things that they didn’t do.
People with dementia may become suspicious or frightened of others as a result of changes in the brain. Today, we’ll explore this lesser-known symptom and how to assist someone living with dementia and paranoia.
Why Do People Living with Dementia Become Paranoid?
Dementia affects the brain in many ways, causing the individual experiencing symptoms to become suspicious of people around them or feel threatened, even if there’s no reason to feel this way. These symptoms are often by-products of delusions.
Delusions and paranoia are very difficult and distressing for the individual experiencing them, but also their loved ones, who are often on the receiving end of their accusations and suspicions.
Paranoia often becomes more common as dementia progresses to middle and advanced stages, as the person struggles to recall memories and differentiate between memories and false beliefs.
Common Delusions for People with Dementia
Delusions can stem from anything, such as seeing something they misconstrue as dangerous, or from an unknown feeling or distress.
Common delusions include:
- They’ve been stolen from – The person with dementia thinks something has been stolen because they can’t find it. They may think a loved one took it without their permission, leading them to become paranoid and hide their belongings. If their dementia causes them to forget where they’ve hidden these things, they may believe more and more things are going missing, further aiding the delusion and paranoia.
- Their loved ones are trying to harm them – A person with dementia may believe their loved ones are trying to harm them for a number of reasons, such as a friend bringing them food that they believe is poisoned. They could also believe that their partner is being unfaithful because they forgot why they left the house, assuming it was to meet someone else. These types of delusions are particularly dangerous, as the paranoia that stems from them can cause your loved one to push people away and refuse essential care.
- They’re in the wrong house – People with dementia may believe that their home is somewhere that they’ve never lived, creating feelings of unease, anxiety and distress. They may become paranoid that they are being kept there against their will, especially if you try to stop them from leaving.
They may also try to return to their ‘real’ home, which is often where they lived when they were younger. This symptom is called time-shifting, where they believe they are living in the past, often before their dementia diagnosis.
What to Expect When Caring for Someone with Paranoia
When caring for a loved one with dementia, you may notice them becoming more paranoid as a result of their delusions. This can take many forms, often stemming from something said to them years before, such as an argument with a neighbour or a loved one.
Now that they can’t moderate their thoughts because of the advanced stage of their condition, old feelings may arise, and they may think that the issue is still ongoing.
Caring for someone who is experiencing delusions and paranoia can be difficult, especially when they turn their negative feelings onto you. They may think that you’re lying to them, trying to harm them, or forget who you are.
Reasoning with them usually won’t work and may even reinforce their delusions. This is why it’s essential to take a compassionate, empathetic approach to caring for them, rather than becoming defensive.
Assisting Someone Living with Dementia with Paranoia: What Can You Do?
The first and most important thing to do if your loved one is becoming paranoid is to keep calm and try to understand the situation from their perspective. They’re confused, their memory now has gaps that their brain is trying to fill with false information and delusions. This is an incredibly scary time, and challenging them will only make things worse.
Instead, here are some practical tips on how to assist your loved one with paranoia:
Comfort Them
Stay calm and use a gentle voice wherever possible. Instead of arguing with them, understand that the situation is very real to them. If they think you’re trying to harm them, the worst thing you could do is laugh or dismiss their worries. This will only make them more paranoid and distrustful.
Instead, let them know they are safe and reinforce that everything will be okay. Consider using physical touch if appropriate, such as giving them a hug or squeezing their hand, to let them know you’re there for them.
Consider If There’s Any Validity to Their Paranoia
It’s important to remember that sometimes items really do get stolen, and vulnerable people are often more at risk of being scammed. Instead of immediately shutting your loved one’s concerns down, consider whether their keys could’ve really been stolen, or if someone is trying to harm them.
If you think your loved one is in danger, seek professional advice. It’s better to be safe than sorry, especially if they’ve never felt paranoid in the past.
Try Distracting Them
Once you’ve calmed them down slightly, try to distract them with a favourite food or hobby. Talk about things you know they love, such as their siblings, childhood friends, music, books or art.
If they’re paranoid that you’ve taken something from them, offer to help look for the missing items. While you’re walking around the house, discuss what you find along the way, such as books, photos and mementoes from their life. This can help put them at ease and replace feelings of paranoia with more positive memories.
Distractions inside the home don’t always work. If your loved one is still agitated, take them for a walk outside to get some fresh air. The sensory experience of being outside may help them forget about their delusions and paranoia.
Make the Environment Calm and Familiar
Delusions and paranoia often stem from negative feelings, such as distress or feeling lost. Making sure their home is as calm and familiar as possible will help them relax, fostering positive feelings rather than keeping them on edge.
To keep their environment beneficial to their emotional state, consider:
- Keeping the space calm, quiet and tidy
- Surrounding them with things that are associated with positive memories
- Turning off the TV if a show is too upsetting or overstimulating
- Reintroducing yourself and others as frequently as they need
- Playing music associated with happy memories
- Keeping extra items that are often lost, such as keys or a wallet, so they can be easily replaced if they go missing
How Trinity Homecare Can Help
At Trinity Homecare, we pride ourselves on offering bespoke, compassionate dementia care for individuals and their families. We understand how difficult it can be to deal with paranoia and delusions, especially when you’re being accused of things you didn’t do.
We can arrange a visiting carer to come to your loved one’s home to offer you some much-needed respite, giving you a break and time to recharge. Or, if you’re in need of more complex, round-the-clock support, our live-in carers are fully trained and experienced in dealing with challenging behaviours, such as delusions and paranoia.
Talk To Us Today
At Trinity Homecare, our ultimate goal is to enrich your lifestyle in the comfort and familiarity of your own home. This allows you to live the independent lifestyle that you love without the daunting thought of moving into a care home. We are here to support you with various forms of live-in care.
Call us now on 0207 183 4884 in confidence for a free, no obligation quotation. If enquiring outside of our opening hours, please complete our online form and we will contact you the next day.
