Hello, my 94 year old mother suffers from Dementia, severe Bursitis, COPD and other ailments. Her doctor was reluctant to give her pain medication which she desperately needs to be able to walk, etc. Now her condition has worsened and she will sleep half the day away. By allowing her to sleep as much as she wants, I find myself cooking dinner at 9pm at times. She states that she hurts all over and is too cold to get up. I have to force her to get up most days. Should I let her sleep or wake her earlier to give structure to meal times etc. She just picks at her food when I do cook so at times rather than feel guilty, I will let her sleep which also causes guilt on my part.. Thank you in advance for your thoughts.
In addition to seeking pain medications, warm gel pack wraps with slight compression, gentle exercises through range of motion and massages can help reduce arthritis pain. In home PT was able to show us several gentle exercises done from a seated position (some using stretch bands) to help maintain range of motion and reduce pain. Focusing on reducing swelling as much as possible has reduced her pain levels and need for pain medications.
Consider changing doctors or get her to an urgent care for pain meds. Also, just wondering about her thyroid. Has that been checked recently? My aunt, 93, gets very cold when her thyroid is out of range. Might be worth a check. And make sure she’s getting Vit D3 and her Bs.
CBD oil helps me with pain and anxiety. I have another aunt who has Parkinson’s. She’s been on hospice for two years now. My cousin started her on CBD oil thinking what would it hurt. and it helped her mom tremendously.
I personally would not be concerned about her sleeping except that being in bed too much can also cause pain.
Try to get her out on sunny days to sit in the sunshine. You could also massage her arms and legs to warm her. A mild muscle relaxer might help with the pain and cold. Let us know how she is doing. Hugs to you EssieMarie.
She is fine now but had several months of depression, I guess, but was finally hospitalized for constipation which turned us back around.
She just quit getting up even to change wet clothes. She wasn’t interested in food either.
I would try to get her up gently at first but I would end up stomping my feet and shouting at her. I was so angry all the time, it was awful.
If she had been ill I could have handled it but it seemed she just gave up on life.
I FINALLY got family to help and she was picked up and carried to the car to go to ER.
Following that She had in home pt but wouldn’t work with me on exercises. She still won’t but now she dresses herself every morning and makes her own breakfast.
In my frustration, I often wondered if I should just leave her alone and let her have her way because it wasn’t doing any good yelling at her and I didn’t like being so mean.
You have my utmost sympathy. I hope you get some good advice here.
charlotte
house doctors can be located by using google online or asking her insurance company if they cover such services with an assessment done by her primary physician. I found them very helpful for my mom . As far as a schedule goes, she sleeps because she’s bored. Maybe have some interaction and try to encourage the Memory game or play cards. Let her fold simple laundry, invite a relative or friend over for a visit , show old pictures and talk about the happy times and places she visited. I’ve worked Alzheimer/Dementia clients for 32 years and sometimes it’s a challenge but getting her motivated and out in the fresh air when warm is all good. Caregiving is a long sometimes hard to bare when you try so hard to be positive and want the best for your loved one. Keep active yourself even if it’s a short walk or a chat with a friend. I hope I’ve given you some ideas that might answer your concern.
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