Mum started to behave weirdly and has bizarre beliefs

[DaniGreen]

Hi,

I'm turning to you because I've grown concerned about my mum, since her behaviour and beliefs have become quite strange lately. She's in her mid 60s. Here's a few of the highlights:

• She used to be very much against using pharmaceuticals for almost anything, often telling me how bad and untrustworthy they can be. She'd almost never take one for a headache or when feeling bad. Now, she started taking them even when she feels just slightly under the weather; she says that she doesn't has the time to get ill.
• She used to take time for a proper meal during her lunch break, now she'll often just skip it, or eat some unhealthy fast-food or crisps.
• She's otherwise become quite neglectful regarding her own health: she's been coughing on a daily basis for around a month and refuses to see a doctor; I warned her that using metal utensils to pick stuff from a teflon frying pan can release toxins from the coating that then get into the food, which can have serious negative health effects, yet she continues to do it.
• At her place I had a door stopper in shape of a duck, that she wanted back, when I took it to my place. She also knows that I tend to have security cameras in the properties where I live, and she's adamantly against having one at her place, to the point of getting really mad if I mention installing one. At the time when she requested the duck back, I also found out that she thought that I had a concealed security camera in it.
• She's kind of Christian (goes to a well-known pilgrimage site regularly, does her own prayers, but doesn't attend church), yet she also believes that Jesus might be an alien from another planet (she watches a lof of alien docs on History channel etc.). If you're willing to worship an alien, doesn't that then mean you're pretty desperate, entirely lost your hope in humanity?
• Her moods can fluctuate quite a lot day to day; from joyful, happy, to angry, irritated.

I've spoken about some of this with her already, yet she dismissed my concerns as nothing to worry about. I'd very much welcome your thoughts and advice on this.

Regards,
Dani

Where did you read that I was implying that?

Eh?

It's not hazardous or toxic to use a scratched non-stick pan. That article, and the linked bit of research, don't claim that or support that idea.

FWIW - I am with you on the use of pharmaceuticals when not required and the teflon pans - none in our house! but I do fall into the hippy whacky category.. and I can see that if I turned around in 10 years time and was popping paracetamol regularly and microwaving things in plastic containers that my children would be concerned.

I mean I'd be pretty pissed off to be told what to do by a daughter especially if her ideas were a bit wacko like yours

So you're worried she acts differently to you and doesn't listen to what you think she should do?
I think she sounds normal
Mid 60's is not elderly!

Yes my dad was majorly pissed off ,,guess what he had dementia. I'm not saying this lady has but I am saying if her daughter has noticed significant differences in her usual thought processes and usual opinions then she is right to notice that and and question that some else could be going in .

Op if you think it's something in your gut just keep a eye on the situation . You know her best and your correct to care and notice if something feels or seems 'off' . Its likely to be nothing but your aware of further things start seeming out of character.

I understand dementia. The reason I said that is because OP's concerns seemed more about herself than her mother.

But the only one that sounded odd or paranoid was the camera in doorstop?
Elderly / older people can get psychosis as well as dementia keep an eye. Anything like voices or more paranoia might be significant. Does she spend a lot of time alone?

So, so, she does tend to watch TV at home by herself after work. But she does socialize privately maybe once every two weeks on average.

Dementia presents mainly as forgetfulness and cognitive decline. It can present as blaming others for things that the person has forgotten about( think can't find purse or money) as well and slight paranoia. Minor changes like taking paracetamol I wouldn't worry too much but see how she goes :)