I had to place her in an AL with memory care this summer. I am concerned that she will fall! She claims she can see as well without them. She is extremely stubborn and I do not want to argue with her... I know that there are vision changes that come with dementia. Is this what is happening? I have made an appointment with the eye Doctor however I am not sure that she can answer the questions... Since being in the AL memory care she has fallen at least twice. She also wants to sleep all the time! I think she lacks motivation and also feels useless. She is on an antidepressant but I do not feel it helps at all.
Dementia patients can really benefit from improved vision (cataract rmoval, for example) and sometimes better vision can reignite some interest in things around them. But if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
If you don't think the antidepressant is helping, can you discuss it with the prescribing doctor? Maybe a dosage change or a different medication is needed.
I'd be interested in what the eye doctor has to say. Good luck!
Your situation sounds different in which vision could a factor but you're the best to know if wearing glasses is a big deal or not. Is there a PT you could speak with? Has your mom had cataract surgery? My parents and in-laws experienced a dramatic improvement in their eyesight after cataract surgery to the point they no longer needed glasses.
I second Jeanne's vote for at least *considering* cataract surgery, but unless a) she has in fact got cataracts and b) her optician or ophthalmologist agrees that they're severe enough to be making a significant difference, it probably won't be worth putting her through even that comparatively straightforward surgery.
I'm sure you've already been advised that deep sleepiness - is this new, by the way? - is one effect of stroke. Of course, it's also an effect of being very elderly and getting plain tired…
I hope the person doing the eye test has a much better bedside manner than our optician. If he weren't a good optician I'd sack him on grounds of sheer grumpiness with poor tired little old ladies. Stay with your mother throughout the test to hold her hand but guard against actively answering questions for her, of course.
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