If your senior is aging in place with a progressive disease, they may become paranoid. Paranoia is a distrust of things, places, people, and the reality of life. It may mean a senior feels like they’re going to be attacked or persecuted in some way, even if this isn’t true.

If your loved one is struggling from paranoia while they age in place, they may need more help from home care assistance. These are professionals who can help your aging mom or dad live the rest of their years at home and help them understand how to work around or cope with the paranoia. If things become too bad, a senior may have something more going on, and they will need a doctor.

However, here are some easy ways in which home care assistance can help your senior loved one battle paranoia.

 

Validating Feelings

Sometimes, a senior will feel scared and paranoid because they are actually battling something like Alzheimer’s disease. You may not understand what they are going through, and home care assistance workers may not be able to relate all that well. However, you can validate a person’s feelings.

When a senior is feeling paranoid, you or their home care assistance caregiver need to talk to them, understand them, and tell them that it is okay to feel that way. Sometimes, just by validating a person’s feelings, they will open up to you and feel calmer in your presence. This can help them feel less nervous when you or their home care provider comes around, making it easier to work with your elderly loved one.

 

Distracting a Senior

Not all seniors care whether or not you validate their feelings. Sometimes, it’s better to try to distract them from whatever they’re thinking. Home care assistance can help transport your elderly loved one to fun local activities and help them find things to do around the house.

Your loved one may need to be distracted, which can come in many forms. If you know what your senior loves to enjoy doing, this is the time to do it. By doing activities, your loved one is taking their mind off whatever they feel paranoid about.

 

Building a Routine

Creating a routine is important for all seniors, not just those who are battling paranoia. A routine will allow your senior loved one to feel in control and know what is coming up. They will have less to feel paranoid about and feel like they have the independence they seek.

Your loved one should sit down with home care assistance and develop a routine they want to follow. Sometimes, just knowing what’s happening and being aware can help ease the sense of paranoia.

 

Being With Your Loved One

Home care assistance will build a relationship with a senior, which means they will be there for your loved one. Sometimes, rather than being alone, just having another person in the room with them can help ease the sense of paranoia and fear. You and other families can also do this for your loved one.