My 95 year old mother is not naturally a mean person, but now that she has dementia, she is mean or angry 98% of the time. She is not in pain and is not wanting for anything, as my sister and I are her caregivers at her home. Her only medication is citalopram (and SSRI), which I suspected could be contributing, but it does help with her sleep and anxiety. I am wondering if anyone has found a drug or intervention that works to change her mood?
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”Mean” you and others who love her may be better overlooked than more medicating.
Take her as she is day to day.
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You are correct in that the medications MIGHT be causing this, or contributing. And once again, aging is not a whole lot of fun. I am 80. The world begins to change around you. The new gadgetry and the new ways of doing everything are a mystery. Your mind isn't so quick. If the knees don't hurt today well then the backs do.And starting at the head there's the hearing, the eyes, the everything. One gets tired. One gets anxious. One worries more. One begins to wonder what's going to give out next. One either tries to HIDE all this from family for the family's own good or one lays the burden of all that luggage right at the family's collective feed. That's personality. But everyone suffers. One at a time things are taken from you from balance to mobilitiy,from continence to senses, and finally the brain and the very essence of who you are.
So what's there to be real happy about?
All that can lead to depression and contrary to what most folks believe about depression (that it is manifested by saddness and withdrawal) more often than not depression manifests as anger.
I would say that you are dealing with a lot of guesswork here from others, and the more opinions you get the more confusion you may feel.
I would start with talking to Mom. Tell her what you are hearing. Tell her gently and without anger, but with care and concern. Ask her if there is any way you can help.
Next step is the medical check in to weigh all of this.
You will find that often enough there is no certain or easy answer and I sure do wish you good luck.
Have you talked to them about her behavior? There may be a better drug for her.
If she isn't being seen by a geriatric psychiatrist, I would strongly urge it. The right meds made all the difference in the world with my mom.