UTI or the new norm?

MMC.2004

My dad is in Memory Care. He has vascular dementia. He is probably stage 5 (of 7) with dementia, plus mobility issues and incontinence. Over the past 10 days, he has declined mentally pretty significantly and for the first time has had a few delusions. The facility suggested it may be a UTI but he has been combative and non-compliant with getting a urine sample.

Nurse has suggested that this just may be the new norm. I don't know, but I don't know that I want to keep pushing for UTI test if it will result in him getting physical. Does anyone have experience with a loved one with dementia getting a UTI? How frequent were the delusions? Any other signs?

Rescue mom

My DH went through almost exactly this. He was tested for a UTI, and no, it wasn’t. It’s the disease progression (also in stage 6, Dx years ago). I guess I was lucky that he was docile as long as he was…

UTIs are common in elders, and facilities that kept other family members tested for UTI at the first signs of abnormal behavior.  My mom was in a facility, they were always testing for UTIs. It was actually good if that was the reason, because it’s so easily dealt with. 

The “off” behavior, including delusions and acting out, was the major signal of UTI in elderly.  Elders who get UTIs rarely have the pain that most of us women, especially, recognize as the big symptom.

My DH did not have a UTI, nor any other common or suspected infection or problem (they tested and checked for a lot of things). But he became aggressive, and had/has delusions, all that happened pretty fast. After UTI and other illnesses were ruled out, we were left with disease progression. All those behaviors are sadly common as the disease progresses

jfkoc

Ask them to use a 'Hat". Then it should be tested by a labe including a culture.

DrinaJGB

Since he has vascular dementia it could possibly be due to increased vascular episodes. In other words--more little strokes and brain bleeds--which can cause changes in behaviors.