Needing advice

DotBern

Hello,

My mom, 87yrs old, with mixed dementia, Alzheimer's and vascular has continued to decline over the years and lives in a MC facility. I am an only child and visit regularly and her biggest advocate. She has been on hospice care since Oct. 2024. Her health has been like a roller coaster since that time. She is still able to walk and talk and eat, although, these can decline on occasion.

During the past 6 months, her lower lip and chin will quiver non stop with no control of stopping it. During the last 3 months, she began rocking. I realize the rocking is not uncommong and can be self soothing. However, her rocking comes with anxiousness and will also move to non stop walking up and down the halls without having a destination. Just needing the "walk". The last month or so, she is showing signs of involuntary jerking motions as if she is going to rock but doesn't quite make it to a full rocking motion, and even more recently she is starting to chew her food like a camel would. I fear she may have developed another condition, such as Parkinson's but not sure if I should take her to a neurologist. In speaking with hospice, they agree with what I've noticed and said they would have the PCP come take a look at her but that a neurologist would need to make any diagnosis such as Parkinson's. I can say, when she is at rest (sleeping), these movements disappear.

Has anyone else dealt with these changes in their loved one? Would it be worth it to know if she has Parkinson's and perhaps can be treated with something to help. Thank you in advance for any insight.