Hospital to Rehap = Late Stage of Alzheimer's

BJACKSON

My DH was taken to the hospital where he was discovered to have fluid in his lungs. While being treated for 5 days he caught the flu there. He walked into the hospital and could clearly be understood. After spending 3 weeks there and losing 22 pounds he was transferred to rehap. Now he does not walk, can barely speak and is not interested in eating. I do not know what to do. This is his first week in rehap. I do not recognize this person who pulls out the oxygen, tries to bite and kick the medical attendants. I tell him when he improves he can come with me but I do not see it happening soon. He is terribly agitated and I am unhappy to see my DH in this state. What to do?

sandwichone123

There are two types of decline, and it's hard to know yet. Most pwd and many older adults with normal functioning will have decreased functioning during and after hospitalization, called delirium. It may be temporary and they may rebound nearly all the way after a few weeks. Sometimes after hospitalization they have a permanent decline, often caused by the illness that caused the hospitalization, which may itself have been caused by the dementia.

Give it a couple of more weeks before making any permanent changes.

trottingalong

my husband does get hospital delirium. Thankfully the hospital staff is wonderful and understands this. Last time he tried to escape thinking he was being held hostage by the cartel. I was also a Russian spy. He was very angry, in a rage. So foreign to who my husband is. He bounced back quickly after getting back home. I was lucky to have a hospital doctor who had a father with dementia. She felt the sooner I got my husband home, the better. He had a lung infection. Antibiotics worked and unfortunately the steroids exacerbated the rage. Me spending the night with my husband made a big difference. He does not remember any of this. Is it possible to take him home with physical therapy or would that in itself be too much of a burden for you.

BJACKSON

I feel it would be a burden at this moment since he is not strong to feed himself. I am willing to give the rehap two more weeks. His breathing is still not stable.