Nursing home ?????

sad lucy · January 2023

I placed my husband in nursing home last Oct. He has been on Seroquel 50 mg per day which really helped him. The nurse told me they cut it back to 25 per day today did not say why, they called me and said they found him in the bathroom looking for a razor to commit suicide or wanted a gun. His depression is really bad would like to come home but does not remember where he lives or remember who I am wish I could have him home to take care of him. He is a big man and fall s all the time I cannot get him off the floor, the nurse is suppose to call me tomorrow I want to know why they would cut his med in half, wish I could go in to talk to him but have 6 in of snow cannot get out of my driveway. thank you, just so frustrated that he has to go through the depression so bad he wants to die.

Phoenix1966 · January 2023

I’m so sorry you’re going through this right now.

Please keep in mind that when LOs want “to go home”, it is most often another time and place in their failing memories they actually want to return to. Please console yourself with the fact that your LO probably wouldn’t recognize your home any longer and being there wouldn’t make him any happier than where he is right now.

I’m glad you’re going to get answers on why there was a medication change with such harrowing results.

Ed1937 · January 2023

Lucy, I'm sorry. One of our sons has been fighting clinical depression for over 20 years, and I know it's really hard.

I think it might be time for you to get some answers from someone in the nursing home. Hopefully they can get his thinking straightened out so there will not be any more problems.

I'm in NW Indiana. They were calling for around 4 inches of snow for us, but we only got maybe an inch and a half. Then it warmed up to around 35 degrees, and the driveways and streets are clear now. Sorry you got snowed in. That's not fun.

toolbeltexpert · January 2023

Sad Lucy I am so sorry that the change brought about a negative response. My dw falls into that same thing, talk of ending it, I cant do this any more, I hate when that happens. I feel so helpless, at least they have a group of people who can watch day and night over our lo's. I am hoping going back will bring have a positive result for your dh.

Stewart

harshedbuzz · January 2023

sad lucy-

I am so sorry you have this situation.

The atypical antipsychotics are powerful medications that can have significant side effects for some individuals. It could be the doctor there felt your DH might do well on a lower dose given that he has presumably settled into the routine at the SNF. Or it could be they feel his disease progression had gotten to a point where he didn't need as high a dose (not that 50 mg is a "high" dose) to be comfortable.

Have they tried anything else for depression? My dad took 25 mg of Seroquel morning and night for agitation and hallucinations as well as Prozac and Wellbutrin. His geripsychs both felt the cocktail was the most effective way to manage depression, anxiety, hallucinations while minimizing side effects.

That said, federal regulators and the CMM are cracking down on the use of antipsychotics in SNFs that is well-meaning but probably shortsighted for the dementia community.

This should be a gifted link-

HB

Ed1937 · January 2023

HB, if you want to delete that link, I think this one will work, and it will not make the box so wide you can't read it. https://tinyurl.com/4vd5vr4p Thanks for the link.

harshedbuzz · January 2023

Mayor Ed-

Thanks.

HB

jfkoc · January 2023

Please, tell the facility that no meds can be changed w/o out consulting you.

Now you need to talk to the neorologist in charge to get some answers.

It's hard but as caregivers we still feel like we have to be on top of everything.

Twin Mom · January 2023

They may be reducing the Seroquel because it is an antipsychotic and they get "dinged" by Medicare if they are giving it to anyone who does not have a diagnosis of schizophrenia. There was an article about that in the NY Times because CMS is now doing a look back at the huge increase of patients in nursing homes now labeled with schizophrenia.

This is the title to the article...it is probably behind a paywall.