My mom has been in a nursing home for over 4 years. It has been heartbreaking, sad and depressing at best. She has dementia so everything is so hard. Lately she has starting crying every morning and doesn't want to get out of bed. She doesn't sleep well and I'm sure that is why. But the staff tries to wake her and give her breakfast and she always cries and begs them to leave her alone. What can I do? I'm so sad.
I just say something vanilla and comforting - Grandma says she loves you and wants you to do what the nurses say. So far.....so good.
Mom asked recently if her parents were still together. (They are - in the graveyard!) I said yes, they are still together just like always. Fortunately, that was enough and she moved on to the cats she hears in the walls and accusing everyone of breaking her legs. Sheesh.
Her brain is changing and the crying is an outward sign.
My mother is extremely difficult in the morning. It takes two people several hours to get her to just sit up and take her meds. It takes several more hours to get her out of the bed, into fresh underpants, clothes, and a meal. The staff have a procedure to follow. Announce their name and what they are there to do. If she won't, they exit and re-approach 3 times. After that a supervisor will come in with the person to help get mom going. They will do 2-3 person assists and use a lift to get her up and into the day.
My mom has trouble with night to day and day to night transition and it's part of the dementia effects.
I would definitely ask for a care conference and talk about a psychiatric evaluation for this.
What Nora do you think she may be getting upset about?
You could suggest it to the staff there and depending on what other medications your mom is on a mild antidepressant might help her.