Mom is 92, a peach during the day but at night but has severe sundowning and walks the halls, enters others rooms, bangs on doors, writes on walls, wanders outside and occasionally is naked. Belligerent. She has no recollection. Facility is not equipped to manage her. A friend mentioned music which I will try, but the fact is I have to move her for the 5th time in four years to a memory care and there are only two in the area. Both are full and I am at my wits end. The facility is setting up a NPI interview which may help fast track her into one of the facilities if a bed becomes available. I am in the process of getting mom enrolled in Medicaid (she has no money). The facility has sent me a 30 day notification of removal. Any words of wisdom would be appreciated!!
If she can walk well she should have a daily course of walking. Eat no sweets and a B supplement. I recommend Puritan Pride They make their own and are pure. Let everyone know so others can benefit
big pharma wouldn’t want this known since they love MONEY!!
Cancer also can be. cured by an alkaline diet. Acid feeds cancer
Diet is important
It is caused by brain cells dying and brain chemistry changing.
What are you talking about ?
Be careful - VERY CAREFUL - making blanket statements.
Would they be able to lock her door in the evenings to keep her from going on other rooms?
This might take a week, not sure. You can ask if she can be evaluated in a hospital setting for 2 weeks?
Back when my mom was alive, she was on a 4 year waiting list to get into a Medicare bed at a long term care facility.
The only way to bypass that long wait was to have just been released from a hospital to do 30 days at a nursing home, and then they’d downgrade her to an assisted living. She didn’t have this happen, but I know it was/possibly is still a thing. I don’t know if it still works that way (she passed in 2013)...
...but if it does still work that way, it might buy you another month? I think her program was called the StarPlus program that paid for her long term care? Call to find out if they offer this and if the Hospital Stay/30 day Nursing Home/Downgraded to an assisted living with a Memory Care Wing is an option.
God bless you and your mother, xo
Mom probably should have been in Memory Care since the first or second time you moved her.
I know many people do not want to move a loved one into MC "sooner than they need to be" BUT the sooner a transition is made to MC the easier it is for someone with dementia to adjust to a new routine, new surroundings.
Medication can help with the anxiety, sleeping.
Not to rush or push anything but if mom has any condition that might make her eligible for Hospice a Hospice placement would also "fast track" her into a facility. Not to push it but typically with a hospice recommendation a facility would accept a person with an anticipated shorter residential expectancy. (did that make sense?)
Have you talked to the doctor who manages her medications about her behavioral challenges and the fact that she's may need to move? I think a change or adustments in meds is in order.
Our AL has a geriatric behaviorist on staff. What a Godsend! If yours does, use that person. If not ask them whom they recommend.
She was on hospice at the time. Hospice recommended a much smaller care home that take those that have been kicked out. That care home worked better for mom and would have been better for her from the beginning. And it was cheaper than the large corporation memory care.
Best wishes to you, this is hard.
On the 30 day notice, there should be a CC at the bottom of the letter. Usually it gets CC to a probono legal aid, you might want to contact them as to any suggestions for placement.
If realistically you cannot find a new place and mom has worn out her welcome in any other facilities, AND if you do NOT come to get her, the MC will likely contact APS… then APS will seek an emergency ward of the state action for mom. So mom becomes under the purview of the guardian (judge usually assigns an atty or other professional guardian vetted by the state). Sometimes this can be best as they can find a spot for her and take care of filing Medicaid. If this happens, it does not have to be contentious between you and the court appointed guardian. Perhaps view APS and the guardian as being able to do what you cannot as they have all the resources of the State to use. If there has been no financial misappropriation that would be an issue for mom’s Medicaid eligibility, having her become a ward of the state may be something for you to think about.
Her going naked probably is the tipping point for the MC. Has there been any discussion on changing her wardrobe? There are clothing lines that are “adaptive clothing”, basically clothing they can’t get out of them…. They get called “anti-strip” or “stay dressed”. Silverts Clothing & Buck & Buck carry them.
Ward of the state.....yikes, don't know if I can do that. But when the time comes you do what you gotta do. I'm meeting with the facility director tomorrow and float that by him.
Thanks for the clothing info.
That can do a number, no pun, on people who don't have mental issues, it can be worse for those that do.