Mum is in the beginning stages of dementia at 95 and has been in the hospital because of pancreatitis and a gallstone. I brought her home today and she is more confused than she's ever been. Want's to "go home" to her home she lived in as a child. She keeps trying to leave the house because she thinks she has to meet some men that want to buy her 1941 Ford, and she's talking about people that haven't been alive in many years. I can't calm her down. Is this because of the change in her normal routine? Will things go back to what I considered "semi normal"? I don't know how to deal with this behavior. I go along with as much as I can and try to pacify her but when she tries to get up and leave, I'm running around dead bolting the doors. I finally got her to bed because one of my cats who has really taken to my Mum, went in and snuggled on the bed with her. Hope that continues throughout the night!
They might have also put her on mood altering meds in the hospital to quiet her down, which could still be affecting her. Seniors metabolize medications differently than younger people do (it stays in their system longer), so she could still be reacting to something she had in the hospital. Did she have any anesthesia in the hospital? That can also throw seniors for a mental loop. I'd talk to her family doctor if she's still hallucinating tomorrow.
While my mom would return to a more rationale frame of mind upon discharge each stay or injury has a cumulative adverse effect which she doesn't overcome
Blannie, Rainmom and MsMadge all raise excellent points. Hospitalization can be a very stressful and disorienting experience, even for individuals without dementia. A stay that is supposed to help our loved ones get stronger and healthier can actually compromise their health and immune function in additional unexpected ways.
A number of different things can contribute to this so-called "hospital delirium." Consider the medications she is taking now (and the ones she was given during her stay that are likely continuing to have an effect), gently ease her back into her daily routine, and let her rest and recuperate as best you can.
Unfortunately, in many cases this rapid progression of confusion and cognitive decline is irreversible. Therefore it is extremely important to help your mother avoid further illness and hospital readmission. Try to keep a close eye on her condition and any further changes in her physical and mental health. If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to contact her physician. House calls from a visiting nurse or a home health aide can be a helpful prevention tool as well.
You can find some additional tips and information on delirium and post-hospital care in these articles:
How General Anesthesia Can Affect an Elder’s Mind
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/how-general-anesthesia-affects-elders-mind-160100.htm
Can Hospitalization Lead to Dementia?
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/cognitive-decline-after-hospital-stay-147836.htm
Hospitalization May Increase Rate of Memory Loss in the Elderly
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/hospitalization-can-increase-memory-loss-150105.htm
Providing Healthful Post-Hospital Care for Seniors
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/post-hospital-care-155508.htm
Best of luck to you and your mum, pink.