She lives in a very good memory facility: they refuse the antipsychotics and present many activities 2 or 3 times a day (gym, drawing, dance, etc)
Since recently she refuses to see her visiting dentist (she used to love her) or hygienist for her nails.
Sometimes she refuses to eat except desserts. And she succeeds to not swallow all her pills (bit of paranoia: she thinks they want to poison her).
Each employee has his or her method, but they change regularly.
When I’m there (often), it’s worse, because she doesn’t want interference with my visit!
She has regressed in the last weeks : she thinks at 89 that her parents are still alive and want to return with them.
Suggestions? Prognostics?
Thank you for your answer. Yes my fear is the same as yours. I sympathize with you. I hope your mom has still a long time before hospitalization! I think mine has, but as we say in french « her health is like a bird on a branch » one moment there one moment gone!
I’ll suggest your idea to crush the pills in some dessert, thanks! I’ll have to discuss more with the staff and the direction about their plans for her reluctant behaviour. They refuse to prescribe antipsychotic but if mom lives in fear, is it really beneficial? There always a downside to every pill, it’s often difficult to balance the benefices against the secondary effects.
Much to think and watch!
Big hug to you too. Thank you again!
Memory Care is not a panacea.....they can only do so much for the residents. If the resident becomes too much to handle, which is where I fear my mother is heading, then I'll have to get her into Skilled Nursing and apply for Medicaid. That would be her final destination, because in a SNF, they can handle A LOT more issues than they are willing to in most Memory Care Assisted Living communities.
Wishing you the very best of luck with this difficult situation, my friend, and sending a big hug your way
In fact I fear that if the staff can’t find solutions, Mom will end up hospitalized! Is that a crazy fear?
The UTI is watched and not a concern at the moment. But Mom has another problem due to radiotherapy more than 30 years ago that affected her big intestines. The pills she takes are for keeping things fluid... sometimes a bit too much which provokes her belief about being poisoned!
yes it is a bit of a roller coaster ride! The worse is to be powerless when she’s despairing when things are too fluid or when she fears other residents...
Thanks for your support. My fear is for her future if she continues to refuse every care and the personal don’t find solutions