It seems like I NEVER see any of the other residents at Mom's Memory Care Home have anger or outbursts. She's been on and off raging, yelling, cursing now for a month and half, and we finally get to see the neurologist tomorrow. The Memory Care Home has been giving Mom Ativan as needed to help keep her rages to a dull roar, but I am hoping to have a better solution. The fine line is that we hope to manage the anger, but not dope her into a stupor. I don't want her to get kicked out. BUT if anger is so common, why don't I see the other residents (there are roughly 60 total) ever having an outburst. Are they all doped up? Grrr...frustrated.
And, not to be cynical, but it could be that some of them aren't quite so punctilious about that fine line any more.
Remember those happy teenage years when you had a massive zit on your nose and you were sure the entire world was pointing and laughing? In reality, they were far more concerned about the spots on their own noses that you didn't even notice.
Perhaps you could also ask for a consult with a geriatric physiatrist to adjust her meds.
Come back and tell us what the neurologist has to say.
The Ativan has only been given six times, so the doped up state I have been seeing is most likely Mom's body adjusting to the increase in her other meds (the mood medicines were increased) and they changed the form from Depakote to Depakene, so another adjustment. Apparently Depakene is faster acting.
If the sedation affect doesn't even out, we are to consider lowering those mood medicine's a tiny bit, and if her anger and rage continue on or get worse, we can then try a different medicine called Seroquel. (at least we have options)
I notice a huge improvement in her mood and her mind function after her work out sessions at the gym, so I have added a 3rd one to her week. Unfortunately, she's beyond the whole reasoning thing it seems. I used to be able to reassure her that she worked out twice a week, and it would satisfy her somewhat, but now if the answer isn't an IMMEDIATE yes, work out is today, she kind of goes off the deep end.
We will see if added that 3rd work out helps overall or just helps in the moment.
I also spoke with the head nurse at her Memory Care home and asked if Mom was close to being given an ejection notice, and she laughed and said, not at all, they would let me know if their concerns started being that serious.
I guess it's good Mom hasn't actually hit anyone, and apparently the staff is fair game, other residents are not.
Other residents apparently do yell, got a story today from the staff: (and I find this humorous) One of the other residents was apparently yelling about having to use a walker (try getting someone with no short term memory to remember they now have to use a walker) and Mom came out of her room to tell that resident that they didn't have to yell about it, and apparently they both started yelling at each other.
I don't know how anyone can keep a straight face at that point. The whole scenario just tickles me. Of course, that's because I didn't have to calm anyone down, but still. Mom (who's been having yelling/screaming outbursts) telling someone else not to yell!
The extra therapy is great. Try watching some Teepa Snow videos if you haven't already. She can help with how to handle when your mom gets mad it isn't therapy day.
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