Hi, first post here, have gotten a lot of helpful info, thank you. Hoping the delirium might ease, only her second day home. She is so confused, restless, garbled speech, doesn't know she is home. Asking abt her parents. Eating a little and drinking fluids. Caregiver trying to keep her normal routine. Profound hypotension when paramedics arrived, hosp. Doc said she had gastroenteritis. In hosp for 2 days. Anyone else have experience with post hospital delirium and how long/if it improved? Thank you.
She already has vascular dementia, so it's normal for her to have some confusion.
As Geaton points out, it could be a total unknown, given your friend's current medical condition, as we all are unique.
Edited: I thought hosp was hospice. But I’ll keep this post here.
The best resource I found: Positive Approach to Care. Website = www.teepasnow.com
What is the living situation now of your friend?
Is she in home care?
Does she have family?
Is she in a facility?
Are you willing to serve as POA for placement and etc.
Is there a family anywhere in the background?
If this dementia that has worsened (and vascular WILL worsen) are you willing to continue to serve as POA for a friend?
If not, do you understand you must resign before a judge and with his/her permission so that the state can take over the complicated care of the bestie? And that once the state does take on guardianship are you aware you would have no remaining power over decisions for your friend?
That is to say, sounds like this is bad with dementia already and issue and now worsening. And it will get worse. Do you feel up to continuing as POA?
Has your mom been put on any new meds recently which could be contributing to this issue? Thats always the first question to ask yourself in situations like this, in my experience.
Best of luck to you.
First of all, she should not have returned home in this condition unless there is someone caring for her now 24/7. Is there?
What is the plan if this doesn't go away?
What is the cause? Did she have surgery? Did her condition deteriorate radically? Have they checked for a UTI? Have they checked her sodium and potassium and done otherwise a complete electrolyte panel? I would return her to hospital via ambulance if this continues. From there Social Workers may need to work on placement, either temporarily or permanently after a complete neuro-psyc check up. But first comes a checking for the cause of this dementia. When it doesn't go away on return to the home you may well be looking at something medically induced or at something that is a permanent change in mentation, and the only ones who can tell you which are the doctors.