I need advice on how to get my delusional mother to go to the GP.

[dabbler]

She is 82 and she is physically fit. She can do her own shopping and take care of herself. However, she has recently started suffering from paranoid delusions. Don't want to go into too much detail but it is concerning her neighbour stealing from her (he's not by the way). She has been getting worse and worse for the last 2 years and it has reached a point where the police have become involved after she nearly attacked him last week. I will be meeting with the housing association at her house this week to discuss if there is any support they can give her.

She totally believes in her delusions and there is nothing I have been able to do to convince her otherwise. Sometimes the delusions are about me. She is adamant she can look after herself and doesn't need to see a GP. I have tried to get her to go to the GP on the grounds that they might help her with the 'stress of the situation' she is living with but she refuses. I had thought if I could get her there, I could ring the GP before and forwarn them of the situation.

She needs some help if only because she is being eaten up inside by the thoughts that her neighbour is doing something to her and nobody is helping her. It is really getting her down.

Any ideas how I can physically get her to the GP?

Would she go if her GP asked her to come in ? Often, if you call the GP, tell them what is going on, and say she just won't come in, they will call them for a 'routine check up' appt.

The thing is she is 82,physically fit and independent and while she is safe and not doing anything illegal she can think what she likes. What you are worried about is her mental capacity and if it is senile dementia. My mother was exactly the same and i spoke to her G.P and she did not have senile dementia just delusional. Anyone can be delusional.

I didn't know you could do that. It's worth a try, thanks.

I'm not in the UK but can you get the doctor to do a house call? Get them to say it's a new service they are providing to clients over 80?

My gran went very delusional and it was diagnosed as TIA's (mini strokes) and was well controlled by medication. If it's something so easily treated it would be a pity if you couldn't get her seen.

Yes she can think what she likes but if she is making false accusations that require police involvement of course you want to do something about it!

Just to clarify my mother prodded the neighbour in the chest and swore at him - he contacted the police and the housing association and they contacted me about her and want to set up a meeting. It's a free country and she can be as delusional as she wants but the housing association won't put up with her harassing her neighbour forever.

The worst thing though is that she really genuinely believes she is alone with this problem of the neighbour and nobody is on her side. It is really upsetting her, she cannot sleep, she is really miserable. I have a friend who deals with geriatric patients in a psychiatric capacity who says a small dose of anti-psychotics woulds help her feel better.

Thanks Onthebottomwithawomansweekly I will see if the GP will call her in for a 'checkup' though she refused to see me on Sunday and I think she's starting to get 'suspicious' about what's going on.

P.s I'm not worried it's dementia. I don't care what it is called as long as she gets treatment. (My dad had dementia)