I had to place a relative into a care facility this past summer. Dementia symptoms were well under way at the time of placement. The facility was kind enough to let him keep his chewing tobacco as long as he was clean with it. A hospice recommendation came quickly due to no appetite. Fast forward to now. For awhile he appeared to turn a corner and began eating, but the dementia symptoms worsened quickly. Hospice has tried several medications to control agitation. Now, he has been spitting on residents so we forced to take his tobacco. He is wearing a nicotine patch, but the behaviors are getting worse. Due to COVID I can’t do face to face visits to see what’s really going on, so I feel like I am making decisions in the dark which is frustrating. I understand the need to keep a patient calm for the protection of everyone in the facility. However I am very concerned about the number of med changes in a short period of time. He is still on hospice. Is it normal to increase meds four times in a two week period? How can we keep him calm without drugging him to the point where he is barely awake? I am open to suggestions.
Sad but True, especially with Patients with Dementia.
They need more care even when they're eating, to remind them to take a bite, chew and swallow.
Senforcement Homes don't have the staff to spend 30-45 minutes with one patient while they eat.
My 96 yr old Dad has Dementia as if a year ago and he can only eat soft and mushy type food like mash potatoes, yogurt, oatmeal, applesauce, soup, soft brownies with no nuts, still loved pancakes and waffles with maple syrup, sift doughnuts and he loves milk which is good protein.
He can still eat hard boiled eggs cut up.
He will drink chocolate Ensure too.
Thing is, Senior Homes will not cater to eaters. They'll just put food in front of them and if they don't eat, they'll just day they're not eating.
Please don't let them talk you in to putting a feeding tube!
My 96 yr old Dad likes to eat something every 3 hrs like a baby.
He has no problems eating if you feed him what he can eat and things he likes.
Even with the so called junk food like the brownies, I find the ones with the most protein.
Sone people stop eating be because they are sad, bored, feel unloved, ect. Some because, they have actually forgotten and sometimes even think if they swallow they will choke.
Meds can also interfere with being hungry or not.
My Dad us living in his own home with 24 7 Caregivers.
Besides visiting, I have cameras set up in the house so I can keep watch anytime as to what really goes on and be able to make decisions even when I'm not there.
Whatever you do, if he has to stay where he is, please have a camera mounted in his room so you really know what is going on.
I don't allow my Dad to be on meds except if he gets a urinary infection, ect.
Every one wants to give meds and they tell you all kinds if reasons but most is just to keep the patient passive, almost like a vegetable.
And the poor patient can't even let you know what's going on because even if they're not all doped up, they can't remember.
My Dad can't remember what happened after 5 minutes or so but I can always back up the camera and hear and see what really happens.
Prayers
Old people lose their taste and start craving sweets.
Also, most nursing homes won't allow you to put a camera in a resident's room because of privacy concerns.
Ask your dads facility if they have the essential caregiver program. Some places are allowing one person to visit. That person must test negative for Covid prior to the beginning of visitation and retest every two weeks. They must go only into the patients room and wear the proper protective gear.
I am sorry he is going through so much. Sorry for him and you. I wonder if they started the meds at a low dosage so as to keep from overdosing him and are raising it in an effort to find the right strength for him? Ask them about this. I also wonder if he has been tested for a UTI? UTIs can really accelerate dementia behavior. Left untreated they can be toxic. Please ask them to test him.
I know it’s a heavy responsibility. I hope he can get relief from his distress soon.