Help My mother cares for her sister(my aunt) who refuses all help she thinks we are out to get her, and thinks she is normal. My aunt is 80 years old some how she has manage to go over 30 years without medical treatment of any kind, she has never had a shot or blood taken,so the doctors office will certainly be a nightmare of test,needles and poking.How can we help her without it giving her a heartattack or a nervous break down? She is convinced we are trying to kill her and she is completely a different womwn then the one I grew up with,she was a humble christain -now she will cuss out anyone and she really BELIEVES she sees things and people that are not there,HELP we do not want to cause her grief but my mothers is living a hellish life of being accused and screamed at.
My aunt is 80-years-old and has went 30 years without medical treatment of any kind, and she thinks my mother and I are out to get her by trying to take her there. How can we help her without giving her a heart attack or nervous break down?
Often these threats can turn violent or the elder can do things like try to light the non-existent stove in the corner of the living room. My own aunt did things like this and nearly burned down my cousins house TWICE!- thank goodness for alert neighbors. After the second time, they realized they were not safe in their own home and grandma had to move.
In situations like this families are often left waiting - sometimes praying - for something to happen so they can either take the elder to the ER or call the cops. I hope you can be there when she falls down and call 911. Tell them you fear that she broke her hip and insist that they take her for x-rays. Once at the hospital tell ANYONE and EVERYONE you see about her rapid change in behavior. Ask that she be admitted for a full physical and mental evaluation. You might be surprised to find something minor, like a urinary tract infection, is contributing to her crazy - and uncharacteristic behavior.
Good luck - be sure to post an up date here!