My mom who is in early late stage of Alzheimer’s has been in a memory care unit for 5 years. We moved her while she was still cognitive enough to be involved in this decision and the change and transition while hard, was do-able.
She is an “active” Alzheimer’s patient who seldom sits but is restless and busy. Usually, when I visit she begs me to take her home to her mom. She doesn’t always know who I am, but she knows I can take her places and I love her.
Recently, she has started going into other people’s rooms and going thru their things and refusing to leave when asked. She also helps herself to food that is on other’s plates. These behaviors have understandably triggered a lot of negative verbal comments by her fellow residents, but recently escalated into physical contact by another resident, which was reciprocated by my mom.
She is According to a geriatric psychiatric nurse (mental age 2-4 yrs) is being discharged from her memory care unit due to her behaviors
She is on Medicare and places to move her are extremely limited...She does not qualify for hospice yet. When and if a place is secured, it will be a skilled nursing facility and she will have a roommate.
I am dealing with extreme sorrow over this situation and trying to figure out how to help her transition to these abrupt and radical changes that are coming during this later stage in the disease.
Please if if you’ve been down this road, any help or support would be welcomed!
Spend as much time with her as you can during this transition. She recognizes you and finds familiarity and comfort in your presence.
None of this is is your fault.
I'm so sorry tthat you are going through this terrible situation.
while still, mobile, mom eloped and put up a fight - we had to switch her meds - seroquel wasn't the right one
now that she's immobile, she still cusses and will pinch during diaper changes - we just roll her top up over her hands to slow her down a bit -
I have private caregivers with her during the day
- unfortunately, during certain stages, meds are the only thing that will keep them calm enough to handle
it is a very difficult situation to handle
Alzheimer's does not cause aggression. That is Frontotemporal Dementia FTD or specifically Behavioral Variant FTD or bvFTD
FTD is frontal lobe. FTDdoes not respond to medications that target the brain, even melatonin or any sleep aids.
Alzheimer's meds have adverse and dangerous affects.
Your doctors probably are not aware.
My wife suddenly became and autistic 2 year old at age 53, in 2006. The doctors could not find a cause.
I have care for her at home since. I had to retire from my career in 2013, at age 62, to care for her.
Only by a chance phone call to a social worker who's husband had suffered many years with FTD, did we have a clue. This was 2015, 9 years after the onset.
The university doctors jumped on it and confirmed, after they had already administered crippling Alzheimer's meds.
Christy has to be watched 24/7. She is hyperactive, will bump into walls. She is enraged by restraint. She is hand fed and hydrated with a turkey baster continuously, all day, often while she is pacing, head hung, drooling from the Alzheimer's meds.
Alzheimer's, memory care care, behavioral facilities, cannot accept FTD, only most don't know it until they have the bad experience.
She had been rejected from day care for aggression. She beat up the staff, drew blood on the director.
She was also denied the university's acclaimed geri/psyche ward.
Christy is toileted every 2 hours.
UTIs are the worst enemy, Constipation is the next.
Entertaining, occupying her is the greatest daily challenge. Her empty brain is curious and trying to re-connect, but the foundations have been erase.
She is a lot of work, but she has value. The fleeting moments of recognition, the smiles and laughter are worth it.
We have learned the triggers and remedies.
It is no more challenge than responsibility for a toddler.
I can do this for many more years.
Research FTD
https://www.alz.org/professionals/healthcare-professionals/dementia-diagnosis/differential-diagnosis/differential_diagnosis_of_frontotemporal_dementia
Wow! Just wow CM! 😯😯
I tried the link, it did not work, but googled and found it. Thanks. Read it and it sounds as if a new test would be required for each medication. I imagine that eventually based on genetics that the test will determine which med will work for each patient. Wonder about insurance coverage for this type of testing.
My question to you is if your mother is on medication and or if she might be helped even to a small degree with a possible change with it? I am sorry you are having to endure added stress with a situation that is so very difficult for those who are the ones left to look after aged loved ones.
Has mom recently been evaluated for hospice? That would bring in some additional help for her.
When mom was evicted, hospice recommended a smallish care home. All residents there had been kicked out of previous facilities. Hospice had recommended this place. Mom did better, the resident caregiver ratio was lower and it was cheaper then the memory care she was in.
These are impossible situations. Mom had to have private caregivers come in on and off for the entire two years of facility living. That was an additional charge on top of the facility fee.
My suggestion get her facility to request a Geri psych evaluation at a psych unit. Hope they can get her meds adjusted appropriately. And call a well reputed hospice or several of them to see what recommendation they would have on how best to deal with this and to ask if they would have any recommendations for where she could/should go now.
Looks like LTC is the next step. Once her money is gone, Medicaid could take over. I would also ask about meds.
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