She is on bed rest. PT and OT are all that can be done, but she is refusing PT. She is in mid-stages of Alzhimers. My father just died 3 months ago with Parkinsons and COPD. Until now, mom has had mainly short term memory loss. They have been in assisted living, together for the last 2 years. She was in the hospital for 5 days before moving into a rehab center, where she has been for 2 more days. She has refused PT, getting dressed and says she just wants to lie there and die. She screams when they roll her over to bathe her and said she just thinks it's the end. She is in good health otherwise, and taking percoset, as needed for pain. She has gotten up with help a couple of times, but complains loudly about it and wants them to leave her alone. My brother and I have repeatedly given her pep talks about the need to move so she can return to her assisted living room (where she was happy) to no avail. Before, she needed no help with any grooming, etc. and only used a cane when she went out of the building. She is on 2 drugs to slow down Alzhimers progression.
Just occasionally an injury with this level of acute pain can spell the beginning of the end. There may be medications that can be added that will boost the pain medication itself, and she may need more pain meds for a while, perhaps even a fentanyl patch.
Discuss with MD. This is a case of doing the best you can and hoping that the immobility doesn't create further, and worse problems, because it may. I am truly so sorry. Think of it as an injury in which the tiniest movement of any part of your body results in acute pain in the core. I wish you the best, but I think she needs better pain management.
as with most things in life you can not force someone to do something they do not want to do.
Have you consulted with the surgeon about aggressive PT should be?
I would consider that hospice might be one of the things you consider.
Also, an evaluation for depression.
I’ve visited my LOs in rehab, and in one there was a very fine doctor who was head of the place. I learned how forceful he could be in advising patients in similar circumstances as your mom. He raised his voice and told them in no uncertain terms where they’d end up if they didn’t follow the program. He made it sound like a circle of hell. It was his way of motivating, giving them a last chance to respond to treatment.
I don’t think it ever worked because those patients disappeared to long-term nursing across the street.
Sometimes all you can do is give up. Your mom will do what she wants to do, and maybe she knows best. Keeping her alive to experience full-blown dementia may not be such a great idea. I’m very sorry you’re going through this.
While it is likely that your mother has untreated pain or a fear of any movement as her mind may tell her she’s falling, I am sharing my story because my mother suddenly stopped moving, without any injury. Incredibly frustrating - her own worst enemy. And that was one year ago.
Hospice is also a good idea if there is no chance of improving. And with just dementia at play, there is no chance for improvement, unfortunately. Also, if there are drugs to "slow the progression" of Alzheimer's, I'm unaware of them. Besides, why would anyone want to prolong an elders battle with such a dreadful disease?
Anti depression meds may help, but mom may be approaching the end of her life now which hospice can assist with. After a certain point, it's impossible for an elder to recover from so many health blows, and so begins the final leg of their earthly journey. Once my father gave up, he passed away 19 days later from an inoperable brain tumor. Hospice kept him comfy in his AL apartment who agreed to keep him until death. Dad made no progress either in rehab, so he was released in pretty short order.
My condolences on the loss of your dad, and watching the wretched progression of AD which I went thru w my own mother.
with hospice comes the added care. A wheelchair , hospital bed , hoyer lift, care supplies. RN weekly who will manage meds with physician. CNA twice a week
hospice doesn’t mean imminently dying. She would be reevaluated periodically. I read here where their loved one was on hospice for long periods of time…
See All Answers