My Mom is 90yo and in late Stage 5 to Stage 6 ALZ disease. As I'm setting up her meds for the day I ask myself why are we giving her all these meds. Why are we treating her high blood pressure, anemia, high cholesterol, low thyroid, dementia etc. The prospect of living long enough to die of ALZ disease sounds almost worse than dying of any of the number of chronic health problems that almost routinely affect the elderly. Does anybody else think this is nuts or just me? Don't worry, I won't stop Mom's meds because I know she would want to take them as the doctor ordered.
Her former doctor was a pill pusher, and I knew it. But she liked him and had been going to him for a while. When we moved her in with us, we got her a local doctor, a geriatrician, and we discuss the pros and cons and I like that, rather than him having a superiority complex, better living through chemistry attitude.
Talk to the doctor. Namenda and Aricept are not intended to be long-term treatments. You cannot cure dementia. I think I remember someone saying 3 years maximum? I might be wrong about that, but it's been several years since mom was on either of those. Feel free to disagree with me, won't hurt my feelings, LOL.
Next time your Mom is at her primary doctor, ask him/her if Mom needs all those pills. If your Mom takes multi-vitamin pills I would ask if those are really needed. Instead have your Mom take the vitamins that she is actually low on.