Narcissism in the Elderly

An excessive interest in oneself, often accompanied by grandiose views of one's abilities, a lack of empathy for others, and an excessive need for admiration. A persistent pattern of pathological narcissistic traits is diagnosed as narcissistic personality disorder (NPD).

Whether a senior has been clinically diagnosed with NPD or has a lifelong pattern of exhibiting narcissistic traits, family caregivers identify narcissistic tendencies as one of the most challenging issues to cope with when providing care. At their core, narcissistic elders must be the center of attention, often feel slighted or mistreated, and only value others for what they can provide. On top of that, a narcissist's lack of empathy limits their ability to care about the emotional experience of others. When combined with the physical and cognitive declines of aging, the needs of an aging narcissist place a high demand on caregivers with very little understanding or regard for the toll it is taking on the caregiver.

Browse AgingCare's Narcissism Articles as well as Q&A from other caregivers in the Caregiver Forum who are also caring for a narcissistic senior. Find the information, advice and support you need to help you cope with the challenges of caring for a narcissist.