Caregiver 6 years now; find sudden chage not part of illness but med side affects/ Need Advise HELP
A caregiver for my mom now going on 6 years now We caught it early mom's treatment began at age 66 many things happened in and around the time;that caused us not to recognize it readily.Her eldest son past 2001, it was a silent mourning that caused her to sleep infront of her favorite soaps, My eyes did not see how radically she loss weight, She had began entering my room in sweat over hearing my brother speak to her over her bed, then i assumed because of the War; she ran out saying she heard voices of things happening to me. Her last remaining son, I had to work double cause the Economy was realy bad then. Finally, a neighbor referred us to a clinic for evaluation; so then started on nutrition shakes and NAmenda/****** and ******** at nite. aside from her grumpy demenor with the aides and her resistance to her privacy being invaded and others doing her cooking, Her condition improved voices were gone due to louder tv watching.and talkative homeaides. Gradually over the years I took over things she could no longer do for herself billing,banking, food shopping,medication management, and many others. My wish was to keep who she was intact; contagiouse laugher and loving person., We never mentioned the A word in her precence. Doctor's said it was Dementia of the AD type with early hallucinations and Depression features. Til about a year and a half ago a home aide accompaning my mom to a med appointment loss mom on a bus, mom got off and was loss 20 hours. found exhausted the following morning at a local hospital 100 block away from where they boarded the bus. my other sibling became erradic and decided to practically take her from me; an absentee for so long in her care the family was in a ugly feud. When the smoke cleared and mom back with me; I noticed mom's conversing with stuffed animals and unable to go the the bath room so near her bed; and would go anywhere. I could not understand if her 8am/8pm Namenda missed that night caused her to further loss her mental stability? or if others may have given her unprescribed meds since jane doe had no ID.? I still have no clue; I followed her closley and recognized cognitive decline, but not these synptoms they seemed different somehow? In 2007 moms 10 year old application for rental susidy asst came through and was able to relocated to a neighboring state borderline but close to transportation. The move was needed due to her changes and so we moved from a studio 1br to a two bedroom railroad apt; She is visible to me from all rooms.
Unussual to me now is sudden change hapen to mom almost the next day. Had left her with aide and found her with a relative, I'd warned to not leave alone, because offensive correctiveness and attempts to put my mom against me with negative talks. Anyway I arrived with mom very sleepy over her soup; Which I found vry strange; since we where preparing for move the next day. did not read into it too much. Once we moved and settle in, Mom could not stay still..... literally,....., so not like her. Her favorite channel are all programed,.. when I tell you Severe restlessness all day pacingup and down; no medications were missed or changed. So I don't understand isi t possible this aide may have given her something else all these years? and mom is uncomfortable without it? or is mom so overwhelmingly happy? I do not know., But very concern Now I find my self running after her all the time? Can anyone share if this is Akathisia is normal if it began overnight? or if someone may have used something not consulted with me about Neighbors feel it is wonderfull excersice; But she also started whimpering expressions or cry urge around the same time. If any of you ever knew my mother she is known at (Loretta Switt mash) of my family a true srgnt. I am very restless, over her restlessness E-mail me at ********************** right away; from "Whatagoodson" ********************** Thankyou. roberto
Roberto, After caring for my mom for 5 years, I felt all kinds of emotions as I saw her decline. I say it again and again. Try and find a caregiver support group out there for you to attend and get moral support. It is very hard to try and do it alone. You need someone you cal lean on or talk to or listen to you or share a story with. Keep me informed. cg33
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