delusional episodes/refusing help

davisj

My LO is 89 years old and is exhibiting signs of dementia but refuses to go to the doctor for help. He gets confused operating his computer, and is forgetful about events, is sometimes confused about his financial assets. Since he has refused to go to the doctor for help we do not have a diagnosis. An MRI done 3 months ago showed no signs of Alzheimers. He has good days and bad days--can be rational and functioning one morning and have paranoid delusional episodes that afternoon. I do not know how to respond to these
delusional paranoid episodes. They can go on for two hours with repetition of the same recriminations and paranoid delusions about my family and our friends. Does anyone have advice beyond what is generally written about no contradicting, not arguing, trying to distract? The best thing I have done is to just be quiet and let the tyrade run its course. Thanks for advice