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My mom 82, dementia for 4 years now. Lived alone for 2 and that last 2 caregivers but was still pretty independent. A month ago she could no longer afford to live at home so we moved her in with my sister. The transition I knew would be hard and her new hospice care worker doctor took her off the memory meds about 3 weeks ago saying she could no longer absorb them. 2 days ago she stopped understanding how to use a fork or spoon to eat. Today she sat down in the floor and peed. When they went to help her up she would not talk! The hospice nurse just happened to have come during all this and she ordered a hospital bed and said that Mom should stay bed ridden for her safety. This evening she is talking some but mostly gibberish and eating when fed. How did this happen so fast? Is this it are we looking at days or what? My heart is broken! We knew it was coming but 3 days ago it was the occasional night wander and bathroom accidents and now bedridden, what? Please she'd some light if you know what's next or why so fast?

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This definitely could be related to her change in medication. I have heard, anecdotally, that you should taper off of both memory/ antidepressant meds. Can she go back on them? See if this resolves? Other caregivers have written about disastrous effects when dropping memory meds. Google aricept/ namenda cessation or some variation, to find links
 Oh no - I'm so sorry. Didn't see page 2. May your mom be at rest & may you find peace  
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idahogirl, Myheartisbroken's mother has died. That information is back on page 2.
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Pills for Alzheimers/Dementia can definitely cause hallucinations. It did my dad, and the minute he got off of them, he was fine. He was seeing people that weren't there. Yes, when someone gets real unusual signs of a major decline overnight, demand to get them checked for a UTI via urine and blood test, and test for dehydration. Both of those are common when they get in the later stages and can cause lethargic reactions, super tiredness, and being out of it more than normal. If she checks out AOK, it could be she is on a major decline into stage 7. My friend's mom went into a nursing home a few months ago with Alzheimers still talking, and walking and 2 weeks later she declined drastically, couldnt sit up or talk, and passed away. Just make sure you rule out infections and dehydration. It will be up to you to notice those signs and demand the tests. The RNs don't always see it first. We usually noticed first with my dad as he had Alz., and it usually was one of those two reasons. Once IV fluid and meds were given, he would be fine. My mother in law has Alz., now and all of a sudden she slept for 2 days, hardly talked, wasn't eating, and turns out she had a saliva gland infection with a fever. The RNs didn't notice it for over 2 days. The family did, and had her tested. Speak up, and get things done, as your their only protection when they cannot help themselves or speak up. You are their voice.....let it be heard no matter what. If the RN doesn't listen to you, go to the head superintendent, or if they don't listen, call 911 to come and take them to emergency. Just do it.
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She had a beautiful service! Lots of she's tears and laughter remembering her wonderful life. I am doing some better but I fear it will be a long time or never that I won't miss her like crazy. I will stay on here and try to help others as you all have helped me. What a great place for support. Thank you all:)
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I'm so sorry for the loss of your mom. She really is at peace. God Bless.
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I am so sorry for the loss of your mother. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
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Myheartisbroken,
So sorry for your loss.
May you be comforted by the same Lord
Who has taken her home.
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Very sorry for your loss. Take good care of yourself,please keep posting,let us know how you are doing.
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I'm so sorry for your loss, but glad your mom is at peace.
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God bless, and may one day your broken heart be healed
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Myheartisbroken,
My heartfelt sympathies for you and your family. She is at peace and no longer suffering. May God give you His mercy and may your heart mend in time.
Take comfort from the great memories.
((Hugs))
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Thank you all so much! What a blessing being here with you all. Hugs back!
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My deepest sympathies. She is out of suffering now and at peace. ((((hugs))))
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I'm so sorry for your loss. Your mother sounded like a wonderful lady. Thank you for the update. I'm sure everyone around here was concerned. Take care of yourself.
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I am sorry for the loss of your mother. Thank-you for letting us know.
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Yes, she is at peace now. I'm so sorry for your loss Myheartisbroken.
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Her battle ended on day 12, last Saturday. Shallow breaths then just stopped. Rest in peace, my beautiful momma.
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Everyone here is so supportive, I appreciate you all so much! It's been a great place to vent and get thoughts. Truly grateful:)
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I know this is hard. It hurts our hearts so much. Please know I am thinking of you. My MIL also lasted this long. Talk to her and tell her you love her and tell her everything will be alright. Grace and peace.
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That doctor should NEVER have taken her off the memory drugs. My dad was on them until he passed at 88 years of age.

Yes, it can happen that fast.
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Day 10. No food or water, vitals are fine breathing pretty normal. I just don't see how. I know she's ready to go to heaven. Nothing I have read suggests people live this long without water?
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This is so very hard! At the end, we played my mom her favorite opera arias, songs from musicals she loved, American Songbook standards and music from the Big Band era. It seemed to relax her and make the transition easier. It certainly helped us! Be well, and know that we are here with you.
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To follow up, she did have a uti but the stop understanding how to eat started a few days before that. They treated her for the uti and also started the morphine. I went to see her for a few days last week. She was speaking a little, but mostly mumbles. Because they explained to me that forcing food and water is dangerous due to aspiration, and that he body is trying to shut down we stopped food and water 6 days ago. She has been asleep for 5 days. I'm glad I got to say my goodbyes, and I wish the Lord would take her home so she isn't suffering. This is so hard!
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Myheartisbroken,
It sounds like your mother is in stage 7 Alzheimer's.
Symptoms can be;
Can only speak 6 words declining down to one word repeated over and over or unable to talk, can't walk, can't sit up alone without being propped, can no longer smile, incontinent of bowel and bladder, difficulty swallowing then choking on fluids/food, tight muscles or contractures, not aware of the world around them, hard to get connected, the brain can't tell the body what to do.

(Gathered from many sources)

One source said that when the ability to walk is lost, the person has about 4 months left to live. (Don't know if that is accurate.)

I'm so sorry for you all. God bless everyone.
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I asked that question and they said no, that at her age the meds don't absorb very well and they only affect helping retain what she had already. That they don't affect her physical self, like the falling and appetite going. They said once you have to be bedridden the appetite goes really fast because you don't need as many calories to sustain. So at This point putting her through an MRI wouldn't help sadly. She has round the clock care and is in good hands, I know there nothing more I can do but pray for her to not suffer:( thanks everyone for well wishes and advice much appreciated. I will shed some advice in return. If your loved one is nearing needing care at home or in a facility and you are going to rely on Medicaid to kick in...start now! Every state is different but almost all of them go back 5 years on assets. So selling the house and car, getting the life insurance set as an irrevocable trust to the funeral home you choose and liquidating any other asset you can. Most states the cut off is 2000 in assets and no more, they will require receipts for sale of house, car, etc. In my mom's case once she had done all of that in Tennessee she would have been eligible within 30 days because they had already come and done the physical assessment. But we moved her to South Carolina hopeing they would use what we had already and they dont. 4 month back log. So basically once diagnosed with this awfulness get thier affairs in order asap. Start with the area council on aging where you live they can direct you. We had to figure all this out blind and it was HARD! Hope that helps someone here:)
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My mom went from being able to walk a few steps to being bedridden in a matter of days - was hospitalized for UTI but has not regained any strength despite physical and occupational therapy - perhaps she had a stroke but at 94, can't see putting her through a MRI

Did Doctor indicate if your mother being taken off her meds recently could contribute to this decline ?
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It sounds like she is regressing back to childhood in a way. Have you taken her in and had an MRI done on the brain? I had hat done for my neighbor and they could tell how bad her dementia was which helped them to give her better meds to help her remember things. I have been reading everybody's posts along with any other materials that I get my hands on to try and understand this nasty disease and I have found out that there are some cases very similar but then others are very complex. I am so sorry that you are having to go through this because it is not only time consuming but very hurtful watching your mom like this. I am very proud of the strength and love you have. Stay strong.
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((((((((hugs))))))
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They checked her for stroke and uti, neither. Today she more talkative but its very incoherant like she was holding a baby doll my niece was playing with and she was talking to unlike it was real, and then telling someone that wasn't there "Hey come see her, she's pink" then she said lay down before you break it and put the doll down, then picked it back up and said aweweee cute like it was real! Appetite is mostly non existent. She will eat a few bite if they are given but then becomes totally disinterested. And yes hospice has to be involved at this point because she can't walk either. Which is why she was in the floor the other day. Apparently she had fallen a little more over the last month than I was made aware of, because I live out of state. I believe she's going to just have to he kept comfortable until. What an aweful disease, makes me sick. I appreciate all your posts, really I hate that everyone is going through this!
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First thought I had was of a stroke.
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