Pacemaker for dementia Dad. Any thoughts?

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Pacemaker for dementia Dad. Any thoughts?

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What a mean-spirited woman. I do realize that it's the alcohol talking, but wishing someone you were married to for a half century dead is beyond any concept of humankind, normally! Then she decides it's a "go" for the pacemaker. Wow - that's really messed up. If the pacemaker is implanted and if patient is able to withstand the surgery, said pacemaker can be deactivated if warranted. Therein lies the question - why implant the pacemaker unless absolutely a guarantee on QOL betterment?

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My Dad needed a pacemaker back in 2014 and the Dr said he probably would not survive long without it. My Dad was early in his dementia journey and was aware he had dementia.. and did not want a pacemaker or anything prolonging his life.. he had us cancel the surgery.

We put him on hospice and everyone came to visit him seeing that he wasnt going to survive long.. Well... his heart beat stabilized and he lived another 5 years.. he recently passed in April of an unrelated cause.

I would do what your dad wants... and it sounds like to skip the pacemaker. It could be a difficult road.. he could go the route of my Dad.. or he could have cardiac arrest... I know that is what I would want if I had dementia.

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Hello. My mother is 89 and has been on a pacemaker since 2006. I believe the battery life in the pacemaker is reaching the end of its life. I've been trying to decide replacing the battery. It's a hard thing to decide. In the situation with your mother still alive and MIA and the main POA for your dad, you have a doubly hard decision. I think I would ask his doctor for his/her input. Sometimes the procedure itself might be harder on your dad. You know how your dad feels about lingering. I'd be talking with his doctor. You may have a big fight on your hands with your mother, but maybe his doctor could intervene for you. Sometimes having a neutral party involved helps take the stress off the family. My mother has been a struggle for me mainly because she's been so hateful to me most of my adult life. So instead of me being the one to decide all by myself, I'm taking her to a cardiologist and make a decision with him. It's just a thought. I surely hope you are able to feel comfortable in whatever you decide. You have my best wishes.

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My father had a pacemaker put in at age 87. His mind was ok but he had had several strokes and was disabled physically. He later told me he wished he hadn’t done it, it just prolonged his physical decline but my mom wasn’t ready to let him go. So he lived on another 2 years getting more and more debilitated, incontinent, and miserable.

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Absolutely not! Eighty-one isn't terribly old, but if he's already in memory care you know it's only going to get worse. I read a book, unfortunately I've forgotten the title, by a daughter who took care of her parents. Her mother died from the exertions of taking care of a much larger husband so the daughter took over his care. When a doctor recommended a pacemaker she acquiesced. Later she found that her father's mind was completely going, but his heart was going to keep beating. It did for too many years. He had no quality-of-life, and her life was a misery of caretaking. I have said no to that for my husband with dementia.

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The book sounds very similar to Knocking on Heaven's Door by Katie Butler, though Ms. Butler's mother did survive caring for her husband. Being a caregiver had compromised her mother's health and her mom made completely different choices about medical care in her old age, choosing palliative care rather than interventions (such as heart valve repair with its stroke risks) and died lucid and as in control as one can be to the end.

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Skip it. No sense to pacemaker! It will only help doctor send his kids to private fancy college or he will buy himself a new jaguar car

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A loud NO!!!
4 years ago I was told that my husband, who has Alz. would not live through the night without a pacemaker. I consented. Only later, after he had it for months, was I informed that he will never die from a heart attack. The pacemaker will keep his heart beating. That is its job. So what is he likely to die from? Ask your Dr that question before consenting. It is not likely to improve his life, just prolong it. Is that what you want? I also have since been told that anesthesia can make dementia worse. Dr's make lots of $$$ with the surgery so they push for it. Speak to your Dr. about this, not his.
Good luck and HUGS
Jo Greene

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This just upsets me. Would a doctor want to live with a pacemaker if they had Alz? My mother’s doctor said my mother would need valve replacement surgery, pacemaker removal and new one inserted, when she turns 95 yrs old. All this about a month before my mother was referred to hospice. (My Mother is 93 now) and has end stage congestive heart failure. The doctor (a cardio) was being over zealous with my mother and promising she could help my mother live to be 100! I feel we will have to make a decision sooner - rather than later about her pacemaker battery. I am dreading the day. I don’t know if my mother will elect to do so or not. She is still of sound mind now.

My mother also has invasive squamous cell skin cancer that is out of control. But I’m holding my breath about a possible decision she will need to make about this pacemaker soon. I feel she is showing signs that the pacemaker is running low on battery life. Her b/p is very low. She is getting dizzy at times. Trouble breathing. But this could be something else too.

I will have to speak with hospice soon and see where they stand about replacing the pace maker. I have been her caretaker for 8 yrs now. I can’t keep up with her health problems as is. And my own health is in shambles. I am currently in chemo for nhl.

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No. Besides all the other wise comments left below, there is a big risk for seniors regarding anesthesia (which magnifies their dementia permanently) and also taking strong antibiotics (same and other issues) which they would surely give him after surgery. What if he got MRSA (a common but nasty staph infection many people get in hospitals)? Also UTIs from being catheterized. Post-op pain. The stress/confusion of what's happening to him regarding the surgery itself. My mom was an RN for 50 years. She's 90 and is in dire need of a knee replacement but she won't do it for the reasons above. No, fight against it. Also, if your mom is an active alcoholic you could consider pursuing legal guardianship of your dad. Wishing you sweet remaining time with your dad.

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I want to thank everyone for taking the time to read and respond to my post. It has given me a lot to think about and generally has reinforced my gut feeling that it's not likely the right thing to do. If it comes down to actually having to make the decision, I will post what happens. Thanks much!!

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Absolutely not. My mother passed last month. I cannot tell you how happy I am for her. She was 79. We provided round the clock care for her for the last 4 years. She never wanted this situation but we made the very best of it. That means she had company and someone to hold her hand, etc. It also means we did NOTHING to extend this existence. No more hospitals, surgeries, etc. I had to fight hard to avoid a feeding tube during her last surgery despite the fact that her MOLST was very clear on that point. She also had a DNR. I can't speak for your mother or you but as for your father, you state he was clear about not wanting this kind of condition extended. Any hospitalization or anesthesia will diminish his cognitive ability. I watched it happen to my Mom and had many medical professionals confirm this link. My Mom, thankfully, passed in her sleep. The last 2 months she slept more and ate less. She was starting to get skin tears and pressure sores. I was dreading what horrors 'more time' would bring for her. My advice would be to do everything you can to avoid doing this to your dad.

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At age 96 my Mother had a pacemaker put in. Abvisously she was satisfied as she lived an add'l 2 years.

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Rock, I think it is more of a question about is this something dad would want, considering his end of life wishes and his current medical status with dementia.

Quantity of life should never be extended when there is no quality.

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Pacemaker for dementia Dad. Any thoughts?

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