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LuvDaddy Asked June 2014

How to handle agitation/are we nearing the end?

My Dad has progressive supra nuclear palsy, diagnosed originally as parkinsons. He has declined fairly rapidly in the past couple years. This year alone he has suffered 3 falls, both resulting in a head injury, although all CT scans are clear. Last year, he choked and lost consciousness for about 36 hours but went to rehab and returned home after about a month. Since that hospitalization we have noticed a pretty marked increase in dementia. Currently, he is unable to do much on his own and is confined to his wheelchair, bed or lift chair. The most recent head injury occurred late last week, superficial injury, no concussion or hematoma. Since then, he has increased hallucinations, increased sleepiness, and today is very agitated. From what I understand, agitation is to be expected with his condition and he is on medication to help with it. We try music, reading to him, giving him a pillow to cuddle, but sometimes, it doesn't seem like much calms him down. Each injury, cold, change in meds seems to really throw him off and now we have a combination of all three, although he is recovered from the cold. His doctors are aware. I guess I'm just asking for advice on how to keep him calm, if we should even try since this is an aspect of the disease. He has 24 hour care at home. I'm also extremely sad because we seem to be losing him. I don't know if we need to contact hospice yet. We knew things were going to be bad but this is just awful. Sometimes he seems so frightened by things that aren't there, other times he carries on a conversation with an imaginary person and just laughs and laughs.

EXPERT Carol Bradley Bursack, CDSGF Jun 2014
Please contact hospice right away. They can help your dad be more comfortable and help you emotionally. You may have to have his doctor give a determination of life expectancy but it certainly seems to me that your dad qualifies. Call today!
Take care of yourself, too.
Carol

Eyerishlass Jun 2014
I completely agree with Carol. CALL HOSPICE!!!! You don't need a Dr.'s OK to hire a hospice although you might want to ask the Dr.'s office for the name of a few hospice providers.

Medicare covers hospice.

Get this in place as soon as possible. Hospice doesn't mean that you're sentencing your dad to his death. It's not like pulling a trigger. And it doesn't matter if your dad isn't actually going through the death process at this minute. But from what you've described hospice is just what you need and they'll make things so much easier on you and your family.

I wish you peace.

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pamstegma Jun 2014
Yes, call Hospice. My daughter had Compazine for nausea, Morphine for pain and seizure control and Haldol for agitation. Carefully given, these meds do NOT dope them into a haze, they simply make them comfortable and focused and those final hours can be spent in beautiful expressions of love.

xzoecx Jun 2014
I also agree you should call the hospice even just for advise. I was told by the palative care team that the symptoms you describe are ones to look out for and report. The end can never be predicted and I've seen these signs in my dad before and told it could be a matter of days left but that was 2 months ago. Support and advise should be available for you and your family so I hope you get it asap. All the best x

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