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My grandmother lives at home with me (student, unemployed), and my middle aged parents. We were a pretty peaceful family but my grandmother's mobility problems, hearing loss, and now dementia caused us to take her into our house and care for her. We cannot afford a home or professional care, and she already was an extremely difficult person (narcissist, egocentric, manipulative, hateful), even before losing her mental faculties.


Her condition is driving us insane and we are at a loss. Lately, she wakes us up at 3, 4 in the morning because she thinks it is time for lunch. During these past few days she is exhibiting worrying symptoms of extreme agitation, confusion, anxiety, accompanied by severe hyperkinesis and constant shouting. We cannot take a five-minute break, and what's worrying us is she might collapse at any second after all this back and forth and yelling. I don't know what to do.


She used to take anxiety medication but we monitored closely the dosages, so I doubt it is medication-related. She took antidepressants a few years back, but now none. Mild sedatives don't help.


Suggestions?

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Thank you for your replies. We have called for a psychiatrist to visit, because our neurologist said it is not his field of expertise anymore. He is supposed to visit today, so we'll see how this progresses.

A pathologist will visit Monday, too. I hadn't thought of UTI, although in retrospect I should have.
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Welcome!!

Have you called her doctor?

A sudden change in mental status is a medical emergency. It can signal a UTI, stroke, infection, almost anything. It is a symptom.

Grandma's resources should pay for gm's care. Get her enrolled in Medicaid so she can get some in home help or long term in- facility care.
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