|
It definitely sounds like the early stages of Alzheimer's disease or an Alzheimer's-related dementia. Is it possible she's been having mini strokes? If so, she could have multi-infarct dementia. If she does have dementia, sitting down with her and trying to reason with her would be a waste of time. She truly believes the things she's saying. Alzheimer's patients tend to hide possessions. She's not losing them; she's hiding them because she thinks "someone" is trying to steal them, and then she forgets where she put the items. Many dementia patients also exhibit paranoia. Hallucinations and delusions could follow. Having experience in this area as a caregiver, I advise you to contact a lawyer, and whatever agency in your area oversees elder care. In my state, you can be named an emergency guardian, which means you can force her to obtain medical treatment. I'd advise your family to start investigating options now for her future care.
|