Mom is in a nursing home. She is constantly rubbing her eyes and her forehead and has developed an itch around her shoulders. We think it is a nervous condition to her surroundings. She says she wants to be able to get up and go places but her favorite pasttime is sitting in her recliner watching tv. She will not go to any activities the nursing home sponsors. What do you think?
She may be having a nervous problem, but it could be physical. It sounds like she needs a check up, anyway.
Medications can cause itchy skin as can nutritional deficiencies. She could even be allergic to something they use in the laundry, so trying some sheets from home on her bed and to line her recliner would be worth trying (also washing her clothes at home). This is unlikely, but may be worth ruling out the possibility.
Medical advice is needed, however.
Carol
Observation of mine:
My Mother ALWAYS has bitten her nails, as do I and her Mom, my sister and brother even my sisiters #3 son of 3 sons. My point here is that it is either part of our genetic make up or a habit we all picket up. Either way you look at it, nail bitters don't bite thier nails because of a pain or itch it's an automatic behavior (almost beyond control). Since my Mother started the itching thing she no longer bites her nails!!!! She has redirected bitting to scraching it seems to me. I also noticed that this scratching happens or becomes greater when she is being weened off of a psyc med.. I also noticed that along with the scratching, her behavior changes and gets upset at me especially. These changes all coinside with the Med change.
I stay aware of these details and communicate with the NH staff and Dr's about all issues.
Went to see Mom today and her face is all scatched again and she has been scratching her hair so hard she has a bald spot. Just a week ago they started weening her of the Med. again.