CPAP machine

SusanEL

My husband has Alzheimer's and Vascular dementia. He uses a CPAP machine because he has severe sleep apnea. He is in a memory care facility and has now started hitting staff when they try and put the machine on him.

The doctor's recommendation was to stop the using the machine because of his behavior. The facility was sent a message stating that they should monitor him for respiratory distress and give him oxygen if needed at night. The facility cannot give him oxygen because he is not in a skilled nursing facility. He can get it if he is on hospice. He is in stage 7 of Alzheimer's. This will affect his vascular dementia. He will not be able to do the oxygen on his own.

Any suggestions?

M1

Put him on hospice and forget about the cpap. Sounds like this is a battle not worth fighting. He may refuse to wear oxygen also and if he does, so be it. The only relevant question is whether he's comfortable or in distress.

Quilting brings calm

I don’t know why he couldn't be on oxygen in MC. My mom is on it in AL. 24/7

harshedbuzz

In stage 7 of mixed dementia, I would not force the C-pap or O2. I'd bring in hospice and allow them to medicate for agitation that can sometimes accompany difficulty breathing.

@Quilting brings calm what different facilities can provide in terms of care, and what that level is called, can vary a great deal by state. In my state, O2 can be used in a MCF (licensed as "personal care" same level as Assisted Living) O2 can be given despite the fact that the nurses that worked there, including the DON, were LPNs not RNs. They could not, however, give insulin injections which I saw done at my auntie's MCF in another state (an RN from the CCRC's SN came by).

HB

midge333

I am sorry you and your DH are in this situation. I agree with above. Get hospice evaluation and forgo CPAP and oxygen.

housefinch

Agree—-this is not a battle worth fighting with him. He has a terminal disease and is in the last stages. I’m sorry. Let him be comfortable.

MN Chickadee

At stage 7 of this terminal disease I would forego the cpap. I would suggest a hospice consult because making the rest of his days as comfortable as possible should be the goal now. Only interventions that help anxiety and comfort. cpaps are for people who need to prevent years of apnea affects comounding, affecting the body long term (blood pressure, circulation and so much more) but at stage 7 of dementia he probably doesn't have long enough for this to matter now - the dementia and its related issues will take him first.

jfkoc

how is he doing?

SusanEL

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/226820#Comment_226820

I have had him off of CPAP a couple of days because I was checking out what could be done. I am having staff try once and if he doesn’t want it on then they don’t put it on. I am getting a wedge to raise him up some. Thank you for asking. He is not close to Hospice and I feel like I need to try to see if this helps. Even if for a couple of hours.

Joe C.

Have you asked for a hospice evaluation? Hospice is not what it use to be, now they accept patients much sooner. My DW has been on hospice for over a year and it has been a great help since the provide a personal aid a few hours a week to assist her with eating.

M1

Agree with Joe, you have nothing to lose by asking for an evaluation and perhaps a lot to gain. When my partner was placed on hospice in June one of the immediate benefits was the provision of a n electrically adjustable hospital bed, which has been a huge help. Even that would benefit you in this situation.