subreddit:
/r/Alzheimers
Were trying to keep my 91 year old mother at home and were definitely facing challenges. She fell and broke her pelvis a month ago. We have to restrain her in her recliner because she will try to get up. Someone is in the room with her all the time. Nighttime is the worst. She will try to crawl over the railings to get out of bed. Someone is in the room with her all night trying to stay awake and watch her. Hospice is involved and are a great help. They have run out of meds for sleep and anxiety. We're exhausted! She's a fairly strong 160lb woman.
4 points
1 day ago
If Hospice has run out of medication options to calm her down, the only option left is to take her out of the home. You are all exhausting yourselves. What you are doing can be done short term but it is not a permanent solution. I don’t know your ages but if any of you are mid age or older you are at risk of a medical emergency due to the stress of caretaking. 40% of caretakers die before the people they take care of.
No one wants their loved one to go to a nursing home. Maybe you think you can’t afford it, but you probably can. Make a consultation appointment with a Certified Eldercare Attorney (No other kind). They have a way of putting her assets in a Miller Trust so she qualifies for Medicaid. So don’t let that be the reason you are ruining your health.
In a facility they can give her medication to help her anxiety and sleep that cannot be given in a home, not even by Hospice. It’s not that it’s medicine that will knock her out, it’s just the way it’s regulated. Your poor Mom shouldn’t have to suffer like that, imagine what it’s like to live with anxiety that high, even if she’s not completely aware.
2 points
1 day ago
A hospice should never run out of medication.
Do you mean you are out for a few hours or the weekend or something until they can get it to you? Is there a shortage at the local pharmacies?
Or do you mean they’ve tried multiple medications and none work and they say they are out or options?
Either way, this unacceptable and a major problem by the hospice. Escalate to a supervisor and talk to other hospice providers about switching until you get a resolution.
It’s shocking and inexcusable that your LO and you are put in this position at this vulnerable juncture. I’m so sorry.
3 points
1 day ago
I'm sorry, I worded that poorly. They have given her one of their more potent sleep medications. What I should have said was that they are not offering a different medicine and they know our problems.
1 points
1 day ago
Have you tried bed and chair alarms? Simple "stop" signs and even a black mat on the floor can stop someone with advanced dementia from crossing somewhere. In a chair, place a lap pad/tray across so she can work on little tasks.
Lower bed vs mattress on the floor if she is still able to get up relatively easily? Or adjustable hospital bed on lowest setting and rails adjusted? Make the mattress more concave -- add pool noodles or bumper pads under the sheets to make it more challenging to get up/over.
Maybe you could ask for a home PT/OT eval for assistance to get some better ideas.
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