Hard to wake my mother with vascular dementia. Can someone give me pointers?

Question

I

Irecapat Asked November 2020

Hard to wake my mother with vascular dementia. Can someone give me pointers?

Hello Everyone,
Recently my mother had been diagnosed with vascular dementia. There are some nights, like tonight, where I can't wake her up no matter how hard I try. We don't know yet what stage of dementia she is currently in because the screening test has yet to be completed. We know she has vascular dementia based off MRI and CT scans, along with her behavior. She also has advanced glaucoma. It is suspected that she may also have Charles Bonnet Syndrome but with the dementia, I don't think there is a way to determine what exactly is causing all of her hallucinations. I honestly think that she already had dementia for sometime now but was function fine until she had her major stroke earlier this year. In the last month she has been talking to imaginary people and some dead relatives. Objects are constantly moving and she thinks that she is in weird locations without moving. She also suffers from sundowning.

My concern is that she has nighttime medications to take but she won't wake up to open her mouth to take her pills.

Any suggestions for how I can administer her meds safely?

Thanks,

Irecapat

Alzheimer's & Dementia Medications Vascular Dementia

5 Answers

Most
Helpful Newest
First Oldest
First

Recent Questions

Related Questions

score 0 · Answer 1

I'm very glad to hear that :)

Did you find out why she was so deeply asleep that evening?

Helpful Answer (0)

score 0 · Answer 2

Thanks for all of you'll support. Things turned out okay.

Helpful Answer (0)

score 0 · Answer 3

If she is sleeping so deeply in the evening are the meds for sundowning really necessary? When my mother slept like this it was due to her medication, has she taken something earlier in the day that might be causing such deep sleep?

Aside from the medication issue I would be concerned about her sleeping in the recliner, if she has been in it during the day and also all night she is in danger of pressure ulcers because there is no ability to reposition beyond perhaps changing the angle of the chair. I would change your routines and try to get her into bed earlier, perhaps directly after supper?

Helpful Answer (0)

Thanks for the advice. However this is not a reoccurring thing. The antipsychotic wasn't actually prescribed for sundowning. When she was last in the hospital, she had psychotic episodes to the point that she was sometimes violent. It's to calm her down some. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. We have a regular routine. That's why I was concerned about giving her, her night meds. It has been our routine for quite sometime now.

(0)

score 0 · Answer 4

CM is right. I was just going to flat out say>;:: Don't wake her up. If she is okay, safe in bed and fast asleep.. do not disturb.

As one saying goes somewhat like this: Let Sleeping Dogs Lie... in other words do not wake them up.

Especially with dementia. How hard would it be to get her asleep again? Let her sleep. give her a pill when she wakes..

Honestly.. this disease is not fun, and it takes your LO out slowly.. As Nancy Reagan said, It is the longest Goodbye..

Pill or no pill, let her rest... if you feel the need to give her meds to give her body more time here, give it to her gently and nicely when she is awake..
I really did not understand a friend when he told me: death is okay..
It is a part of life, sadly...

With all that is going on here on Earth, all over... what ever you decide with your mom, know you are good. It is Ok.. Just know you are doing your darnedest best for your LO... Do not feel guilty if you miss giving mom a dose.
I worry about my friends with cancer. What is worse: the cancer or the cure?
I certainly am listening. It doesn't sound good about either one, cancer or the cure...
I truly know about cancer, dementia and ALZ.. Lions, tigers and Bears ! Oh my
Sometimes I do feel like I am in the Wizard Of Oz.
so be safe, be positive... waking mom up for a dose or not waking her up, is okay.. just don't give her 2 doses at one time... get on a different timeline.

Helpful Answer (0)

Thanks for the advice. She is in the living room recliner. I decided to stay in here with her so just in case she wakes up she's not alone and gets scared because she's confused on where she is.

(0)

score 1 · Answer 5

Speak to either the doctor who prescribed the meds or your pharmacist, explain that your mother is not alert enough to take medications at night time, and ask them to change the time at which your mother's meds need to be taken. I can't think of many that can't be juggled around a bit if necessary.

What meds are you worried about her missing tonight?

Helpful Answer (1)

Well none are truly essential for her to take I suppose. She has a low antipsychotic to help out with her episodes during her sundowning but the others are okay to miss. I guess I was just so use to our routine. I was more concerned about her not waking up no matter how much I shook her.

(0)

Hard to wake my mother with vascular dementia. Can someone give me pointers?

5 Answers

Recent Questions

Popular Questions

Related Questions

Ask a Question