Since my 84 y/o mom moved into (2 months) AL it’s been one crisis after another. Minor things are blown up into major attention getting events. I’m starting to see how critical having people around is. Is this normal? She has some memory loss but not like I’ve seen in other people, she has paranoia and bad financial judgement. Could this all be a different mental disorder?
Dementia which is basically a general term for Alzheimer.
Not that it matters. In my research it is pretty common to see BPD, and NPD with a dx dementia. It is just a matter of what part(s) the brain is being damage.
To answer your question, I would say, if your mom was always putting her needs before anyone else; if she was always lying; never took ownership in any pain or damage that she caused others; was reckless with her life as well with others? Than yes this could be a mental illness. However, if no to any of these questions, than you are probably just seeing the signs of dementia.
Look back on how she was and not on how she is now.
Ants in the kitchen, a burned out light bulb, having to take a taxi to the dentist....they were all the worst thing that had ever befallen a human being.
Visits with a geriatric psychiatrist and adjustments to her anti-anxiety meds proved very helpful.
It's only two months after a very major adjustment. I'd give it a bit longer, myself. How do you rate how well the staff are handling things?