Refusal to take meds

mameletoo

My mother, who lives in a memory care facility, has been increasingly resistant to taking her meds (she has six or seven meds she takes, divided between after breakfast and bedtime). What are some strategies for dealing with this? The nurses at her facility have some success in bargaining with her, but that seems to have become less effective. My sister and I have been called upon to intervene, but it's not possible for us to be there in person, and it's not always possible for one of us to coax her on the phone (that little thing called "work" gets in the way). We're planning to discuss with her doctors what is absolutely necessary, or at least what should be prioritized. Any other ideas are welcome.

Emily 123

That sounds like a good idea.

When you talk with them and decide which meds are keepers, see if there's any limitations on if they can be crushed and given in something tasty like pudding or a shake.

Gobellago

We are dealing with this as well. My dad is stage 5, 80yo and is in the Enhanced Care wing of an AL facility. He is DNR and expressed his desire to die about a year ago — he is “done”, he said. It makes me wonder what my role is as his POA (activated). If he doesn’t want the meds, do I respect his desire, even though I know at this point he is not able to make his own decisions like he used to? Are there legal implications to withholding meds?

Lynn24

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/69998/refusal-to-take-meds

My mother has been resistant to taking meds for two years now. It has become routine to crush her meds and give either in a few ounces of juice,, applesauce, or pudding

Lport

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/69998/refusal-to-take-meds

Lport

My dad gets in those moods . We just say ok .. don’t take them . We try again about 20 min later and he usually takes them . Good Luck !

fmb

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/216839#Comment_216839

As your dad's POA, you are obligated to make decisions in his best interest, and that can mean discontinuing meds that no longer serve any real purpose. Your dad has a terminal disease in which a time is reached where there is no point in continuing a medicine regimen that is aimed at healing/prolonging life. Has your dad been evaluated for hospice care? One of the first things they do is evaluate the purpose and necessity of all of medications the patient is taking. My 92-yo DH, like your dad, is in an ALF with enhanced care and is DNR. He was taken off of nearly everything, prescriptions meds and vitamins/supplements, that were not necessary for his comfort. He entered hospice care last November with late Stage 6 ALZ, congestive heart failure, and the effects of a stroke. He is now in Stage 7 ALZ and declining quickly. He is comfortable and does not yet need pain medication beyond Tylenol. Our goal is to allow him to die with dignity and as gently as possible.

mameletoo

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/216900#Comment_216900

Thank you for sharing the information about the hospice evaluation. The bargaining, the crushing, the mixing into tastier foods haven't worked with my mother. We're very much hoping we can reduce the number of meds she's on without precipitating more of a physical decline than she's already experiencing.