My father is 83 and was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment about 18 months ago. He is now showing many signs of dementia, among the most problematic being a tendency towards paranoia.
He deduces the worst possible explanation for everything that happens. If he loses something then it's because someone else (usually my mother) has hidden it. If he has problems with his computer (which he barely knows how to use any more) it's because it's being hacked by someone. Most worryingly, since my sister and I arranged a Lasting POA for him he is convinced that we are all trying to steal his money. When the gas man came to repair the boiler last week he removed all of his papers and bank statements from the drawer and hid them under lock and key, concerned that the engineer would try to steal them.
I've seen general advice here that agreeing with everything someone says/thinks can be a good approach when dealing with dementia sufferers, but in this case I think that would fuel his fears and make matters worse.
I was wondering whether anyone had any ideas for how to deal with this? I live 90 minutes from my parents, so only see them once a month.
He deduces the worst possible explanation for everything that happens. If he loses something then it's because someone else (usually my mother) has hidden it. If he has problems with his computer (which he barely knows how to use any more) it's because it's being hacked by someone. Most worryingly, since my sister and I arranged a Lasting POA for him he is convinced that we are all trying to steal his money. When the gas man came to repair the boiler last week he removed all of his papers and bank statements from the drawer and hid them under lock and key, concerned that the engineer would try to steal them.
I've seen general advice here that agreeing with everything someone says/thinks can be a good approach when dealing with dementia sufferers, but in this case I think that would fuel his fears and make matters worse.
I was wondering whether anyone had any ideas for how to deal with this? I live 90 minutes from my parents, so only see them once a month.