My 90 year old mother (who's diabetic, has a heart condition, and very quickly declining from Alzheimer's) has a lot of pills to take every day. However, she's starting TO FORGET how to take them! WHAT DO I DO when she NO LONGER knows HOW to take her pills anymore???
And, just so y'all know, I'm her daughter AND her ONLY caregiver. We ALSO don't qualify for in-home health care, or ANY OTHER type of assistance because we CAN'T qualify for Medicaid!
PLEASE, SOMEONE HELP ME!!!
Have a chat with mom's doctor and see if he can order a hospice evaluation for her now (if she's forgetting how to swallow). That may be your best alternative at this juncture.
Wishing you the best of luck moving forward
However, and I should have made this more clear, she's lately been putting them in her mouth but then forgetting WHAT TO DO WITH THEM after that!
The issue I'm having is that when I GIVE HER the pills that her Dr's have prescribed, she holds them in her mouth and seems to have, at times, forgotten that she NEEDS to swallow!
I'm also sorry that my use of CAPS seemed to habe indicated that, of ALL THINGS, I'm angry, upset, or impatient with MY MOM! That CANNOT be further from the truth, the situation!!! I'm TERRIBLY frustrated by 1) not being able to deal with her inability to SWALLOW the pills she needs to take, and 2) not being able to receive outside assistance because we can't qualify for MediCaid, thus, NO in-home health care!
Is everyone on the SAME page as me now? SO SORRY for my frustration!!!
I would go thru Moms meds and see if she still needs them all. Diabetic, of course. Cholesterol at 90 not so much. After a while cognitive meds are useless. BP needed. Heart, of course.
The problem that has recently become an issue is that once she's put the pill/s in her mouth, she holds it/them in her mouth and doesn't remember TOP SWALLOW!!!
Have you asked her doctor about how imperative these medications are considering the situation and her age?
I hope you find a solution that works for you both.
If you’re able to get a call through to her doctor or the pharmacist who fills her prescription, see if you can get her meds in crushable pills or liquid form.
If you can, you mix the meds into puddings, smoothies, Jello, yoghurt, or heavy milk shakes, served to her in small amounts so that you can be sure you get enough of the meds into her.
Hoping you find something that helps soon.
Thinking of you.
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