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Shari49 Asked November 2021

What is involved in a psych testing for a 94 yr old dementia patient?

The nursing home requested she be tested. Is this standard? I’m wondering what sort of tests will she undergo? Will this help with adjusting her meds?

Pat1124 Nov 2021
If her behaviors were isolated and due to the Covid testing, I would feel they should be a little more understanding. In that case. I wouldn’t allow it.
If the test is the mini-mental, I wouldn’t allow it. Why but a person with dementia through testing used to determine if they have it.
I would assume, like others previously mentioned, it’s to determine medication protocol. Unfortunately, it could be to make a case for dismissal from the facility because they can’t meet her needs. Hopefully, all works out well

Geaton777 Nov 2021
Can you please clarify that she is not in AL? If she is, maybe they are looking to have her transitioned into MC?
Shari49 Nov 2021
She is in long term care. She did try to strangle a nurse, and tried stabbing another with a pen. They have her on adivan. ( maybe when they were trying to COVID test her) We are still working on trying to get her Medicaid through btw.

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AlvaDeer Nov 2021
I suspect they are looking, yes, for safe ways to medicate so that the resident is safe and able to be in a multiple-person complex. You might discuss with them WHY they wish to have this testing. There is little reason to try to evaluate a patient already well advanced into dementia; they cannot cooperate with the exam; so this may have to do with a need for medication. This is always a catch-22. Comes under "not everything can be fixed" as people are often either acting out in a way to disturb an entire facility and its residents or sitting quite zoned out. It is very tricky to find a "cocktail" that works; what works well for one patient does not work for another. Be certain that any doctor has all workup on diagnosis of dementia, and especially the diagnosis of the type of dementia the person suffers from. There is a tremendous difference between someone with Alzheimers and someone with Lewy's and someone with FTD.
Wishing the best.

KathleenQ Nov 2021
Very little. They will try to do a mini mental status exam. You can look it u online.

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