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Mom’s Dementia

Dingie10
Dingie10 Member Posts: 5
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in Caring for a Parent

Hello, I am new to this site, but felt it’s time I should join to get help and insight. April 2020, my mom got Covid Pneumonia. Prior to this, she was getting forgetful and accusatory. Mentioned this to her doctors, but they said it was age. After a week stay, brought her home from the hospital. She kept saying her brain/thinking was weird. This was when the dementia got worse. I’ve been taking care of my mom since April 2020.

Jumping to now, my mom is now incontinent, has lost more weight (is now 87lbs) - she has always been tiny, but I could see her getting smaller. Her appetite has decreased, but I try to get her to eat more with rewards - finish your eggs so you can have your pancake. Also give her Glucerna to drink, but give it to her after her meal so she doesn’t fill up on this drink.

I’ve taken her to the doctor/ER for different issues, such as urgency and frequent trips to the bathroom (UTI? No, negative results).

I take care of my mom… only child, father passed away in 2016. I don’t want to put her in a MC facility - she’s my mom.

After reading the different stages, her symptoms reference the late/last stage of this terrible disease.

My mom is a feisty little 91-year-old Japanese woman. She still loves to eat out and go to the store, so we do this daily. Her walk is a little wobbly, but doesn’t want to use her walker/Rollator. She refused to get hearing aids, so she can’t hear conversations. I think because of this, she doesn’t speak much.

Would love any advice/thoughts on what to do/expect.

Comments

  • M1
    M1 Member Posts: 6,788
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    it does sound like she has very advanced disease. Have you thought about asking for a hospice evaluation? You don’t need a doctors order for this, you can call yourself. The guidelines for dementia are looser than for cancer for instance, it doesn’t necessarily mean that death is expected within six months. They can provide a lot of help and support including a hospital bed and incontinence supplies. I bet she would qualify on the basis of her weight loss alone. Not much to lose by asking.

  • Dingie10
    Dingie10 Member Posts: 5
    First Comment
    Member
    https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/215646#Comment_215646

    Thank you! I did not know this and will check into a hospice evaluation.

Commonly Used Abbreviations


DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
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