I am upset that mom's PCP did not suspect this possibility instead of dementia. Her meds for HPB have never been adjusted despite her extreme weight loss in the last 4 years. I took her to ER after reading an article about UTI's and dehydration causing confusion and memory issues. I feel terrible !
What should I do next ??
The symptoms of a UTI mimic those of dementia. How were you supposed to know that? But you knew your mom was sick and you sought medical care. I think your mom is in very good hands with you. You took care of her and got her seen by a Dr. There is nothing to feel guilty about. You did good!
UTI's are fairly common in the elderly and now you know what to look for in case it happens again. Your mom is lucky to have you.
I know when I worked at the Nursing home (for many years as a charge nurse) it got to the point when someone suddenly had a change in mental status, we would first run a UA to rule out UTI. BUT, if the Dr isn't used to working with Geriatric, they don't always think along those lines. If you have a General Practitioner it might be a good idea to find someone who specializes in Geriatrics! I switched my parents to a ARNP (Nurse Practitioner) who studied IN DEPTH geriatrics. I had the advantage of knowing her skills by working in the Nursing home, but you can do some homework and find someone who knows the issues your mom is facing. Geriatrics is a special field, much different from their needs even just a few years ago.
Hope this helps. Keep an open mind.
Moral of the story if you suspect beginnings of dementia with a loved one or even yourself, get checked for a UTI first!
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