New Here-What if she Refuses to take Meds?

ginateresa

Hello all,

I just joined this site and I'm hoping to get support and advice when needed along the way as my Mom progresses with Dementia.  I sold my home and moved in with her.

My mother has never been a fan of taking pills of any kind.  She stopped her donepizil abruptly and it sent her into a tailspin of hallucinations and being extremely restless.

I was hoping for suggestions as to how to convince her that the meds are needed, IMO, and that she should continue taking them.

Any advise appreciated.

Thanks, G

terei

Just transferring the home to someone else’s name could trigger major tax consequences for you as well as issues for your mother to be approved for Medicaid. (There is a multiple year ‘look back’ for assets)

I would not transfer any assets at all unless you discuss it with an attorney first + get legal + financial advice.

harshedbuzz

ginateresa wrote:

I was hoping for suggestions as to how to convince her that the meds are needed, IMO, and that she should continue taking them.

Any advise appreciated.

Thanks, G

Rule one of Dementia Fight Club is that one does not reason with a person who has a broken reasoner.

It's pretty typical of many PWD to refuse medication. Sometimes they don't believe they need it, sometimes they fear someone is poisoning them and sometimes it's just exerting what little control they have. 

As the pharmacist if her meds can be crushed and added to her morning smoothie or her dessert pudding.

HB

Marta

Gina, Terei was responding to your other thread. 

As far as convincing your Mom to take meds, that will never happen at this stage, so let go of that idea.  She has anosognosia, which is the inability to recognize that anything is wrong with her due to the fact that her brain is broken. 

First, eliminate as many meds as are no longer necessary - do this by checking with her PCP.  Also ask PCP which of the remaining meds can be crushed and mixed in apple sauce, ice cream, or anything else she would eat.  Stop discussing her meds with her and think outside the box to find alternate ways of giving them. 

Let me reiterate the need for your family to get an appointment with an elder care attorney. You can simply Google:  elder law attorney near me. 

You can do this. You are not doing these things behind your mother’s back; instead, you HAVE her back!

lawkat

Unfortunately, you are never going to be able to convince her to take her meds.  Reasoning with them is futile.  I would suggest crushing up her pills and putting them in pudding or applesauce.

Iris L.

Or coffee, to mask any taste.

Iris

Beauchene105

Get liquid form of whatever meds you can. My mom's liquid meds are mixed into her juice bc she is belligerent about taking meds quite often.