Hospice put her on 2mg methadone. Now caring for my mother has gotten harder, dressing and changing her. She has dementia. Now hospice wants to increase dosage of methadone for care. They ordered a splint, that didn't work, now they ordered a palm protector. My mother is 92. I just don't want to see my mother drugged up. I don't know what to do. My mother still has some dignity about her and most times during visit she still loves to sing and listen to her music.
So good to hear that your Mom is still enjoying activities. Discuss dosages, medication, and relief for your Mom with Hospice. They are your touchstone.
Actor Bill Nighy has Dupuytren's contracture and can function perfectly well. It shouldn't have any effect on caring for her.
Surgery is possible for a Hospice patient. They would go off Hospice for the surgery and rehab if any then go back on Hospice if the condition that made them eligible for Hospice remains the same.
My Husbands hands began to contract I gave him a cloth to hold and kept his nails cut so there would be no injury to his palm. It was not painful. Contracture is common with dementia the more advanced the dementia the more constricted parts of the body become.
I will say when we began Morphine I was actually able to move his arms and hands for the first time in a while the rigidity lessened while he was on Morphine. As the dose wore off though the rigidity returned. (even after a dose he kept his hands and arms where they were, he did not voluntarily move them it was I that was able to move hands and arms)
If it is the contracture of the hand that makes caring for her more difficult a pre dose of medication will help relax her so that movement is easier.