Husband got sick last week ended up in hospital with pneumonia and sepsis and now he is home to recuperate. His dementia is worse! Doesn't know his birthday, and struggled to make a cup of coffee. I read that pneumonia in older patients causes some memory issues. Do you think it will improve or is this the beginning of the end? It is frightening. He has an ostomy as well. And last night he unhooked the bag in the middle of the night. Her never did that before.
So if there is an Adult Day Care that he can attend I think that would do you both a world of good.
I missed my Husband for years before he died. But every once in a while something would happen that would make me laugh, in turn he would laugh and I would get a glimpse of what once was. It was bitter-sweet those moments. You sometimes have to look for those times.
Is your husband on Hospice, or have you checked to see if he would be eligible for Hospice? You would get a lot of help from them, 2 or more times a week you would have a CNA that would come in and help bathe him, order supplies, a Nurse would come to check him medically, you would have a Social Worker that can help as well. A variety of therapists from music, art, massage and for you a volunteer that would come in and give you a break once in a while, or as often as once a week.
((Hugs)) and hang in there.
He was gravely ill with sepsis and kidney/bladder failure/infection in Fall 2014 and was recovering for some time after. He was frail and more disoriented than before. I’m not sure he’s ever recovered to the more spry guy he was when I first started caregiving to his mother in 2011, but he was able to come back some from being very ill and is at a stable place and a new normal for him, now 4.5 years later. I think his quality of life is as good as could be expected and he seems content.
I’m not a medical pro in the least, but I think what you want to aim for with your hubs is his new normal, whatever that is going to be for him. Dementia and aging are both a one way street. Having realistic expectations may help you to understand when he is recovered as much as he can be, and you can take comfort in that. Give it a couple months of recovery to see how his behavior and cognitive abilities improve.
I have since learned to be wary of all medical procedures when it comes to my husband. Especially anything involving anesthetics.
Now, my husband uses medical marijuana for pain relief and agitation. Works great. But, start small. Less is more.
Luckily my sister was visiting at the time and helped me tremendously. We had a visiting NP, and soon got PT and OT as well. Being away from home made him quite crazy with hallucinations. He gradually returned to his merely forgetful, slow-moving self.
Be attentive and patient, and ask for all the help you can get. If you can get an aide in for the afternoon, take a break and go to the movies.
It's tough, but can definitely get better. I wish you the best of luck.
im sorry you’re going through this. I too went through this with my husband last July. The dementia WILL subside. It takes some time ALOT of patience and love. It is frustrating and yes you feel loss. Finding balance is hard and most family and peers don’t understand. You have to think for both of you right now and that is scary. Play card games, board games. Get your husband thinking. Remind him to make lists. Give him small tasks. Reintroduce him back to life in small chunks. Socializing is a big part. Keep it positive.
Thinking of you
Michele
My opinion. More you engage, hold his hand, etc. the better.
John
He will improve. It may take weeks or months depending on how severe the illness was and how long he was in the hospital.
Side note this is a problem with ostomy's, feeding tubes and IV's people with dementia will pull them out. "they just don't belong" to their body and they do not understand that it is something that may be needed. (I will not get in to feeding tubes or other procedures that may not be wise)
Keep things as "normal" as possible, get him back on whatever schedule he was on before. If you have him in Day Care get him back as soon as possible. A routine is important and the sooner he can get back on track the better.
If this was a pneumonia caused by aspiration this may happen again. If it does happen again you might want to discuss with the doctor about thickening liquids so it will be easier for him. At some point the body/brain does not recognize liquids and will not close off the way to the lungs. This will lead to more bouts of aspiration.
What's his BP and pulse ox?
I hope OPs husband comes back around, poor fellow!