Also having a hard time walking. Seems to be afraid, too as keeps grabbing everything in her way such as door knobs, woodwork. She has reached the point of walking a little with her walker then her legs become wobbly. Hoping PT will be able to help next week. I sit with her and her meds and is so frustrating as she will ask at times, what's this for, what do I do, then what?? Also say I don't like this or I'm afraid. Before her Uti's she was taking meds normally. I couldn't take it anymore yesterday, so I got the crushable ones and crushed and put in a peanut butter and jam sandwich, cut edges off and cut in bite size pieces. Does anyone have any suggestions how to help her take meds more easily?? Or even about her fear of walking?
The 1st UTI, she had to go to a rehab to finish medication as getting by IV. The next only only about a month later, was hospitalized for some of meds by IV and then could take rest of them by mouth and could have come home or rehab. I felt I needed a little time after all of this plus I care for her every day with help from my brother. I decided a rehab for about 5 nights and it was the worst place. I felt so guilty letting her go there especially now since don't know if place made her worse. She will soon be 91. I love her dearly but have been with her now over 6 years day and night. Almost 2 years she has needed 24/7 care which we're here for unless we get a few hrs care. She hasn't been like this all 6 years. Was in her right mind for some of those years but the last close to 2 years she has needed so much care . I feel so bad for her and don't want her in a NH.
If you can ever get D Mannose powder into her drinks, I swear by it. I was getting average four infections a year with much traveling up to kidney and pyelonephritis. Since on D Mannose about a decade I have had NOT A SINGLE bladder infection. I recommended to two friends, one of Facebook, one in my local dog park. Same results. We had all been on board to have to take daily prophylactic antibiotics. D Mannose is a simple sugar (can be taken by diabetics, that keeps bacteria from adhereing to bladder wall; is much better than cranberry and no acid. I was an RN and DO NOT believe in supplements, but I sure do believe in this. I take source natural capsules, one a day, they are from Amazon and about 120 for 30.00. There are other sources, but I stick with the one I know works for me. Can be taken as a powder so she doesn't know she is taking it.
When she is in the hospital again, make sure she is catherized to make sure all the bad urine is removed. The problem with the elderly is they don't void completely. Throw in incontinence and Depends...
She will probably need IV again. Have them try something different than before. She should have a culture to make sure exactly what antibiotic should be used. While on antibiotics they should have her on a probiotic and a cranberry tablet. If the cranberry tablet is not given, its OTC and can be given when she gets home. No cranberry juices, they contain sugar.
Your Mom needs to realize that she could die if the UTI is not taken care of.
What is her financial state? Does she have anything more than social security? Does she own a house or have investments, savings? If not you will need to apply for Medicaid for her. You should not be paying for any of her care, now or in the future. It will break you financially.
You can call social services right now and have her assessed for in-home services but they can only provide so much (meal making, light house keeping), But as I stated before, her care will only get more intense. Please read the forum on Caregiver Burnout.
It sounds like she will need memory care if her cognitive issues aren't all from the UTIs (which are extremely common and constant, same with my MIL). Please visit several facilities to find one you feel comfortable with. Hopefully it will be in close proximity to you. Make sure they offer complete care, all the way up to hospice, so your mom won't need to be moved if it comes to this. Make sure the facility accepts Medicaid. Since Medicaid beds are scarce, get her into your place of choice before she goes onto Medicaid. They cannot kick her out once she is on it (but if the facility doesn't accept MC, they CAN kick her out). She will be in a shared room but will receive the same care as the private-pay residents.
Sorry to flood you with all this info...it's like drinking from a fire hose...this website has many caring and wise people who can answer almost any question so check back. Wishing you peace about your mom's care.