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unluckysis Asked November 21, 2023

Mom difficulty dressing Neuro DX missing anything?

Recently chronic UTIs have sapped mom’s strength such that she struggles to lift feet & legs for dressing. She’s in ALF & mostly self mobile w/her wheelchair or rollerator. Has decades of poor diabetes’ management, foot neuropathies, kidney disease, COPD, high blood press, vascular diseases, bowel incontinence. Primary care did a neurological assessment & found nothing. My granddad was very similar but only kidney disease & vascular dementia yet still lived to 93. Mom is only 72. Anything to do besides wonder if she has some kind of dementia? Trying to minimize dangerous falls & increase Physical Therapy. She is getting assistance for dressing & bathroom, etc. In previous hospital & rehab visits she’s had bed & chair alarms. Should we had a baby monitor or baby cam? Thanks in advance.

Debbiespain Nov 24, 2023
It's an unpredictable row to hoe with everything mom has going on. More than likely, the ALF where she lives probably won't allow cameras for a variety of reasons. At least in our experience anyway. Plus you'd have to use their WiFi.
You CAN add a wearable monitor and have the information rolled over to the facility as long as you pay for it. Other than that I wish you loads of luck and to be clear, with everything that is happening with mom, I'm surprised she has any energy at all.
Good luck though.~

JoAnn29 Nov 22, 2023
Your Mom has a lot wrong with her and you wonder why she has no energy? COPD for one. She probably is not getting the oxygen into her system because she is not breathing correctly. Your Mom is having health problems that most people do not get until their 80s. If by an ALF you mean one that you privately pay for Mom may need a SNF where she may get better care. I do hope a skilled woundcare Nurse is doing her dressings. With diabetes the person needs to know what to look for.

If Mom has not been to her PCP for a while, maybe she needs to get a good check up. There are ways to prevent UTIs. My Mom was on a cranberry tablets and a probiotic. Drinking water as much as possible to keep her flushed. Voiding completely when she goes. Sitting for a little while making sure everything had voided. Leaning forward helps. Also D-Mannose may help. To really know what bacteria is causing the UTI, you need a culture. Mom may not be getting a UTI cleared up because she is getting the wrong antibiotic.

Does the AL check her pause ox? Hers may be too low. You can get a meter in the drug store. If her highblood pressure meds are too much, she will feel tired.

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Geaton777 Nov 21, 2023
Mostly dementia is diagnosed by eliminating all other possibilities first (UTI, dehydration, thyroid insufficiency, vitamin deficiency, stroke aftermath, high blood pressure, tumor, etc). Get a thorough exam for her, then do a cognitive/memory test.

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