New to this life

LDRDME

I am new to group and way of life. My mother has been living with me since last Thanksgiving when she came for a visit (she lives in FL and I live in IN) and we have not taken her back. She talks about going home but "home" rotates between FL, NJ and IN. It has always been the plan for mom to live with me (and my husband). My mom's father and sister both had dementia and could not live on their own.

The issue at hand is we have no diagnosis. Luckily, mom is not on any medication and does not have any chronic illness. She has lived in FL since 2000 and never had a doctor there! I got her to go to a NP in January for a "meet and greet" so we could at least get some blood work done. It came back normal except her A1C. She refuses to take the medication prescribed for that. My question to the group is how do you proceed without a diagnosis or maybe we don't need one? The NP was not able to do a full assessment and Mom refuses to be seen by any healthcare professional. I am a former nurse so I have enough background to know what is happening but from a legal standpoint (making her stay in IN, selling her FL house etc), how do we move forward? We have consulted a lawyer and have full POA/HPOA but until there is a diagnosis some things are restricted. 

Just wanted to know if anyone has any other avenues for diagnosis other than a doctor visit. I can't get physically get her there at this point.

Thanks

Arrowhead

From a legal standpoint, there is still nothing you can do even with a diagnosis. You won’t be able to invoke the POA until she is declared incompetent to handle her own affairs. Some states allow doctors to make that declaration and some require a court order. My wife didn’t reach that point until four years after her diagnosis. Getting that diagnosis is your main problem now. Find some excuse to get her to her PCP and have him require testing. You might be able to arrange that in advance. Let the PCP know what you have in mind. She doesn’t need to know the purposes of the test(s). There’s a relative new blood test called the Precivity AD test developed by C2N Diagnostics in St Louis. If she just refuses to go, I don’t know what you can do. Remember that many, of not most, dementia patients don’t realize that they have a problem.

SusanB-dil

Hi LDRDME - and welcome to 'here'...

A diagnosis sometimes is not imperative, but in a lot of ways, definitely helpful, especially as to which type of dementia may be present. Going forward, as your mom needs any meds, some medications may work better with one type of dementia and may work opposite with another.  A diagnosis may help for insurance purposes as well.

Good you have the necessary paperwork in place, too.  

A lot of us use 'fiblets' (for so many reasons).  For a doc visit you might say, "You need to go do doctor for insurance purpose requirements, (or for medicare or medicaid updates, they are now requiring it)."  she might not cooperate enough for a full evaluation, but you might get a better idea of what's up.

jfkoc

A diagnosis is essential since there are health issues that can cause dementia that are treatable such as a vitamin deficiency. 

Once you have ruled out what you can you will want to get as close to the type of dementia as possible they are treated with the same drugs. I do not think a NP is able to do the diagnosis. Now is the time to find a neurologist who specializes in this kind of medicine. Once you have done that we can share any number of ways to get her to the appointment. Re the diabetic med…talk to your pharmacist to see if it is available in liquid form or can be crushed. If so the med can be “hidden”.

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