My 85-year-old father has been very ill with pneumonia and a UTI. For the most part, he is eating very, very little, and drinking even less. He is still taking his medications (including his antibiotics) by mouth and will communicate for a minute or two here and there. For the most part he is sleeping. This morning, his doctor abruptly discontinued his Aricept (without telling us--we found out as a fluke). The nurse said that he did it because often Aricept will cause a person to become very weak like this. My Dad has been on the Aricept practically since he was diagnosed with Parkinson's seven years ago. While his dementia is just now in the early stages, he was prescribed the Aricept "to enable his brain to more easily communicate with his body". It did help. Has anybody heard of removing a patient from Aricept for the reason the doctor gave? What is the ramifications of having the Aricept suddenly discontinued? Thank you all in advance for your replies and advice. This site is a blessing.
The doctor probably felt like there was enough going on with your father and his additional medicines that he didn't need to continue taking one that in all likelihood wasn't even working anymore. Especially since he isn't eating and drinking much.
Don't be concerned, ask the doctor next time you see him.
Will your mother be able to stay in AL by herself? I know my mom is way past the point of being able to make it through the day.
Pick the Social Worker's brain. I know they've been very helpful to us in the past with placements.
Currently, my Mom is doing well in the AL. This particular AL told us before we placed my parents that they could do nearly everything a skilled nursing home could do--except any extraneous life-sustaining measures. i.e., no feeding tubes, no IVs, etc. They have been great there for the seven months my parents have been there.
I have picked the social workers' brains. They keep suggesting Hospice, which may be the ultimate outcome if my Dad does not start eating soon. The more he sleeps, the less he eats. The less he eats, the weaker his throat muscles are becoming. He really does not want a feeding tube (and personally, I'm glad), so if he doesn't start eating soon, I will have no choice but to place him in Hospice.
It's all so sad, because my Dad has always had a great will to live, and he still does. His body has just betrayed him. *sigh*