Don’t know what to do

Hl100

My parent has had dementia for years and was holding fairly steady. They turned 100 a couple weeks ago and it’s like a button was pushed. Forgot how to use the bathroom, kicks & screams when I try to help etc. I got them to wear an incontinence brief but they refuse to take it off. Help….

Emily 123

Sudden acute changes can be caused by an underlying problem, like a UTI. She needs assessment and meds for any underlying cause, even if it’s anxiety caused by disease progression. Has anything else changed recently to disrupt her routine? Is this occurring at a specific time-perhaps sundowning?

Hl100

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/233115#Comment_233115

My whole family had what’s going around, the congestion thing. She has copd & congestive heart failure so we reached out to her doctor immediately. She was given prednisone & an antibiotic. In addition to what I originally posted she has difficulty sitting up, wants to sleep all the time and won’t eat but she’ll drink like Boost & juices. We tried to take her to the doctor but she threw a royal fit.

Quilting brings calm

she may be worn out by the illness - or it may be a natural progression of the dementia or a physical decline due to her age. If she is not already on hospice, please have her evaluated. They will come to her to do that. Acceptance to hospice will mean that she won’t be going to the doctor for treatment, but they will continue things that make her comfortable such as oxygen, medications etc.