Has anyone encountered this with their loved one towards the end? My LO, who is normally, content, seemed annoyed and agitated yesterday. I spoke with the MC staff and am calling Hospice tomorrow to discuss it. It's not a UTI, so, I'm now wondering if she's in pain. She hasn't had the Morphine yet. How do you know when it's physical pain or mental distress?
My mom, with vascular dementia, CHF and some other co-morbidities, fell in the bathroom, with an aide and was determined not to have anything more sserious than a broken wrist. she appeared to give up.
Mom was in bed; face twisted into horrible pain/agitation presentation and that's when I insisted that we bring in Hospice (POA brother was resistant up until that point). Hospice meds (Morphine and Ativan) gave mom some peace (at least to judge by her facial expression).
I hope that your lo has an easy journey.
I recall that years ago, when my LO's mother, (my great aunt) was in a nursing home, I left my job to go visit her. I think I've posted about that day here before. I got this sudden urge to go visit her and take the gift I had for her. I had planned to go a couple of days later, but, instead left the office immediately when I got this feeling. I talked to my aunt, who seemed quite unwell to me. She asked me to look after her girl, (my cousin), and I said I would. Her doctor was making rounds and I stepped out and asked about her. He was upbeat and said she was doing better. I didn't understand, but, I said my goodbyes and left. She died the next morning.
By comparison, I would say that my Aunt's health, at the time of her death, appeared to be FAR better than my cousin's at this moment. But, what do I know. I just wish they would be more forthright with me.
From what I am told, my LO has good vitals and eats well, but, she suffers with wasting. Has lost weight despite high calorie intake. She is mostly bedbound now, doesn't speak. She used to slap her hand down on the surface in front of her at regular intervals. It wasn't an angry slap, but, like a slow, regular, consistent pat. She patted the table, bed, etc. with her right hand. That has recently stopped. Yesterday, she just laid in bed looking agitated and even tried to bite her arm once. That just isn't like her at all. She had just been changed and I wonder if she has pain. The staff is very gentle with her, but, still. She has no fat or muscle anymore. I'm not sure how she could not have pain. She has no fever or sweating.
Is your LO incontinent? Was she able to transfer herself?
Is she speaking or calling deceased loved ones?
By this time Hospice might recommend you start using morphine.
Make her comfortable, it is so well worth it!!
Here is a link to an article on this very subject:
https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/professionals/palliative-care-knowledge-zone/symptom-control/agitation
Sending you a big hug and a prayer that your mom's agitation can be calmed soon. Ativan worked wonders when Hospice administered it to my Dad for his restlessness and agitation at the end of his life.
My mother passed away on Dec/9. just a month after being discharged to home with Hospice.
For agitation they gave mother Haldol 1 ml, when needed.
Well, we needed her to be calmed ...but now in my grieving, I regret allowing them to give her Haldol (which as you may know, it is counter indicated for Lewy Body yet they gave to her for agitation.
I'm not a nurse or MD; maybe someone else can opine on this.
She had been discharged from Hospital with Hospice, they gave her 1 to 2 months. They were correct. She lasted for exactly 1 month and 3 days.
She was agitated every day while at home. She needed to go, to go, to go somewhere but go out. She would say let's go eat out, let's go for a coffee. Hardest thing is that she could not walk, she could not hold her weight, she had lost arm-hand coordination (could not clap hands together), which made it very hard to take her out.
Her agitation also showed in her picking on her bed sheets. Could not keep anything heavy (blankets) on; wanted pants, did not want pants, wanted water, then rejected water; did want soup, then rejected soup; she wanted out; change my blouse, change my pants; give me my purse, take my purse. Give me my boots, slept with the boots on nobody touch her boots!
Hospice treated her with 1 ML Haldol (yes believe it!) when necessary for agitation.
We managed to get take her out (on wheel chair) to walk around the block. That would appease her. Only 1 week before, she stopped indicating she was going out, she slowly became unresponsive.
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