78 YO mom is now diagnosed with early-onset dementia. She is back home after a month in rehab recovering from a fractured pelvis. The fracture has healed, but she also has late-stage COPD and is on oxygen 24/7, so mobility is limited to a few steps only. Our challenge now is how to manage the dementia and save everyone’s sanity in the process.
Her behavior can be fine some days, but aggressive, agitated, and confrontational on other days. She can be extremely mean and lashes out at us, her family caregivers. Add in some sundowner and night-time hallucinations (seeing imaginary people in her room), plus a cold, snowy winter without the ability to go outside, and you have a perfect storm of misery! LOL
What has worked for you?
Meds (which have worked?) to maintain more level behavior?
What activities (besides TV) can we try?
We’re doing all the obvious things (regular meals, reminder notes around the house, de-escalating her episodes, smiling and accepting blame when there is none, etc.). We’re meeting with her PCP to see about the next steps, but hoping this caring community might have some ideas we/ve overlooked.
Bottom line: How do you manage this early diagnosis? TIA!
How about pain relief? Well controlled?
I read what you say about limited mobility; but how did she get on with the PTs during recovery from her fracture? Might be worth continuing if it encourages her, and can be extended to breathing techniques for example.
This can be a trial and error process, so don't be surprised if it takes a while to get it right.
Accepting blame? Have you watched any Teepa Snow videos on managing dementia symptoms? I would not accept blame for stealing something; I would perhaps say "Oh, I must have moved it; let me look for it".
Understand that UTIs can be the cause of a sudden escalation of behaviors. Aggression towards caregivers is not acceptable. If this happens, call EMS and get her to the ER right away. UTIs can turn into Sepsis with frightening speed in an elder.
Admission to a specialized Geriatric Psych facility can be priceless for getting the right meds.