Could mom’s dementia be getting worse?

Could mom’s dementia be getting worse?

Could mom’s dementia be getting worse?

mom’s dementia getting worse
mom’s dementia

First of all, I live with my mom. Second of all, mom’s dementia be getting worse and worse.  The last three days she started accused me of having a man spend the night with me.  Again, this is not the least bit true. Being a widow, I haven’t dated since I lost my husband of 35 years. She is contumely calling me a liar,.  To illustrate, s she can hear him talking .

Mom will confront me first thing in the morning.  Hence,  making me late for work.  In addition,  I cry all the way to work. There is no way I could even reason with her.  Hence, never admitting to something that I didn’t do. She is mean, angry, as well as full of hate.  Mom has become  very combative. Later in the day,  she’ll be fine.  Again, she acts like nothing has ever happened. How do I handle this? I get no help from my family members. I do everything for her myself.  To sum up, is there any advice I could use.

 Stories you can relate to

If there is a sudden change,  get her checked for a UTI.
urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in any part of your urinary system.  For example,  kidneys, ureters, bladder as well as the urethra. Most infections involve the lower urinary tract .  Hence, the most common are in the  bladder or the urethra
This may be the reason for the sudden changes. Furthermore, try not tot argue or explain to someone with dementia.  Again, she is not able to reason or make sense of things.  Also, this is made worse at times of stress. 
Caregivers ought to develop a thicker skin.  First, remember it’s the disease talking. Second, never take things personally. Finally, the use of small lies is one of the best and most effective tools, 

Sponsored by Med-Q Smart Pill Box with Alarms

electronic pill reminder with alarm
MED-Q Automatic pill dispenser does NOT Lock
Mom’s dementia be getting worse?  There is no exact route.  For example, it may get worse fast. or it could take years and years. YES my mom started with some forgetting  issues.  The started around 10 years ago.   However,  her short term memory is now about 5 minutes.  There problem doesn’t stop there.   She is showing   confusion and poor judgment.  For example,  comprehending and seeing things and hearing things.

Confronting or arguing  with your Mom is harmful

First of all, a person suffering from Dementia is not able to reason like a normal person.  Hence, one can never convince your Mom that what she is saying is not true. 
For example: 
Asking Mom is she took her pills.  The PA recommended we use a smart pill box with alarms.  The light trigger a positive responds.  It helps to avoid arguments over her pills

We tried that.  The result were not good.  All it did, made me and Mom and  getting into arguments. Try this,  “Maybe it was the Radio that said that.”  Men and women who are suffering from dementia will experience mood swings.  For example, be kind one minute and nasty in the next minute. I would have wonderful positive visits with my Mom in the nursing home and as I would leave her room she would suddenly get extremely angry and yell nasty things at me. Or she would cry after I left. Mom often would cry after I called her on the phone even though we had a positive conversation. The nursing staff is great and they are able to redirect my Mom after my visits or after my phone calls.


If you can’t remember whether you took your medication, what do you do?

What happens if you don’t remember if you took your medications?  When one is not sure if you took a pill, never, ever just take another dose yet. What could happen if you double dose?  If someone ingests an additional dose, the consequences can be deadly. In fact, an extra dose can raise the risk of harmful effects. Check your pill organizer, count the remaining pills in the bottle, or review the instructions that came with your prescription to find specific guidance. 

doctorHealth care profsionals are in agreement, “For most medications, it is safer to accidentally miss a single dose than to double dose” . Keep in mind that the pill/dosing guidelines vary drastically depending on the medication.  For example, it is different for  blood thinners or something like birth control.), it is always best to double-check with a professional.  If in doubt, call the local pharmacy you got the prescription filled.  Also, call e the America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 .  This can help if you are concerned about over dosing. 

For further guidance, consult I can’t remember whether I took my medication, what do I do? on Medical News Today. To help prevent confusion in the future, you can implement some 9 Simple Strategies for Remembering To Take Your Medication or read the Why You Shouldn’t Skip Your Medication guide on WebMD.
 
If you are missing doses consistently, a few strategies can help get your routine back on track:
  • Use a weekly pillbox: These old fashion pill holders can be useful.   They show a quick visual cue to show which days  doses have been taken.
  • Use a Digital Pill Reminder: Medication reminders, like the Med-Q pill Box. have flashing guides.  These alarmed reminders help preventing over dosing. 
  • Try to do Habit stacking: Match up your daily pill-taking with a non-negotiable daily habit.  For example, your first cup of coffee or brushing yourhair.
  • Set electronic reminders: Use persistent reminder apps, alarm clocks, or simple smart phone alarm reminders.

What to do if Unsure?

The worry about over doing is real.  When unsure whether the dose has been taken, the best thing to do is speak with your health care provider or even your pharmacist. They will  advise you on the best course of action based on ythe specific medication. that is over dosed.

pill box for seniors

If you take oral tablets or capsules, you can count how many pills you have left. If you know when you started taking the pills out of that prescription bottle, this could help you determine whether you’ve taken your dose for that day.

Sometimes, when you haven’t taken your medication, there may still be time to take that dose. However, this could depend on the drug and dosing schedule.

Although in some cases, if it’s almost time to take your next dose, your doctor may recommend skipping the missed dose and taking your next dose at its regular time. Never take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose as doing so could raise your risk of side effects.

What happens if you accidentally take your medication twice?

Do not take more of a drug than your doctor prescribes. While serious side effects may be rare, for some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to harmful effects or overdose. Some of the most dangerous medications to double-dose include:

  • heart maintenece medications
  • ADHD drugs, for example “Adderall”
  • medications for Type 1 Diabetes
  • prescription narcotic pain pills
  • psychiatric medications , for example “Wellbutrin.”

If you have any doubt, act quickly. 

Fist of all, contact your doctor right away.  Let them know you may have accidentally taken two doses or three doses of your daily medication. They will offer up advice.  The Healthcare profesional can often advise of what steps to take.  Also, they will let you know about symptoms to watch out for.

pill dispenser
America's #1 Pill Dispenser with Triple Alarms

Recent Tips

Scroll to Top