She was in rehab for 2 weeks after surgery and at her home for 1 month during home health PT. We took her to our home for 1 week, then took her back to her house. She is not recognizing her home as her own, she says something is not right. She can function fine in her home and is oriented but insists she is still at our house. She has not been diagnosed with dementia or any cognitive decline, she did have some trouble with time of day after naps prior to surgery. What can be happening?
Check out this article
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/how-general-anesthesia-affects-elders-mind-160100.htm
Your husband's reality now is that gramma can't be alone. We were trying to care for my MIL in her home until we discovered she wasn't remembering to eat. Food was rotting in her fridge. She couldn't remember how to use the microwave. We'd call her every day and ask what she ate and she'd give us a detailed account, only to go to her house the next day and find no dirty dishes, no food containers in the trash. She had to go to AL to keep her protected and socially engaged.
Right now you and your husband only have seen the tip of her cognitive iceberg. You and he should make a trip up there to have a discussion with her. Start there and see where it goes. It needs to be gentle and compassionate. She may resist any change or help but this doesn't mean she is ok. You cannot be expected to keep making a 5-hr drive because she won't leave her house (you know, the one she no longer recognizes). Do not take her into your home to care for her (please read some of the thousands of posts on this forum under Caregiver Burnout). I wish you and your family great success in helping her in a compassionate, realistic way!
Breaking a hip is very serious in the elderly. The anesthesia can cause Dementia type symptoms. If you have Dementia, it can cause further decline. Being in the hospital and then rehab can cause some confusion. There's a name for it, just can't remember it.
It can tak the anesthesia a while to wear off. She could also have a UTI that causes confusion.You need to bring up this change to her PCP.
Here's one google definition but please get proper medical advice.
'Delirium is a term meaning “sudden confusion.” It refers to a sudden change in mental function. ... Post-operative delirium is delirium that happens after an older adult has an operation (surgery) and is the most commonpost-operative complication in older adults'.
After hip surgery in elderly patients it is VERY common. Your Grandmother will need supervision until it passes. Can last weeks & be off & on.
Sometimes if there was some mild cognitive decline, this may become the 'new normal'. Keep her supervised, either at your home or someone moves in to hers (if possible). She will be a huge falls risk among other dangers.
I'm glad she has recovered physically but you will have to watch & wait I'm afraid. Good luck.
Maybe watch and wait. It may well be a true mental decline and important to watch for things such as leaving pots on stove to burn to identify if she needs additional help in the house or someone to be with her in the home.
Did she have a stroke in that time frame? Seizure? or are there more signs of dementia from this operation?
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