Hello newbie here!
My mom, who is 90 years old and had Alzheimer's at stage 5 going into 6, had a bout with pneumonia and was the hospital for 6 days in mid August 2025. Upon discharge, she was admitted to a rehab center where she would also receive daily physical therapy and occupational therapy. She is receiving 24/7 care from the aides, nurses, receiving 3 meals, etc. while as a temporary resident and its a short term plan probably until mid to late October. Medicare will allow up to 100 days at the rehab. She cannot get this care at her apartment until we get a home care aid which is in the works. If she did go straight home, she would just be sitting in her recliner with the TV on sleeping. Also she is having some incontinent issues with doing #2 and I had to clean her up a few times.
I noticed that her memory seemed to have gotten worse and she is loosing her ability to speak as it's very short sentences or repeated phases like "I Love You" or "My handsome Son" while at the rehab center. She cannot remember anything she did earlier during the day but that was the same before she got sick.
My question is.....can a person's memory get worse after pneumonia and while staying at a rehab away from home? Would she rebound when she eventually returns home or is what I'm seeing now will be permanent?
Thanks.
If she was discharged and returned home instead, she would just sit in her recliner with the TV on all day long. She has problems bathing as I need to coach her
You need to consult with her MD / medical provider.
Physical illness can always take a toll on anyone, especially an older person. Cognitive decline is brain changes. However, we are all our parts - physical, emotional, psychological and they all work together.
You might want to read about brain changes in older elders when accompanied by illness and what the affects might be. Call or google Teepa Snow, or a dementia / Alz Association.
Gena / Touch Matters
I think Hospice Nurse Julie describes dementia as declining in stair steps, not a straight angle.
This happened with my dad. He would go to the hospital, decline, and that would be his new baseline. Hospital again, decline, new baseline.
This steady change presented in my dad without fail for two and a half years.
I am very sorry for what you're dealing with, but it's time to plan for your mom's final months. Please be prepared and cherish your time with her.
2. Being in unfamiliar surroundings at her age and in her condition, can cause anxiety and confusion.
3. She may bounce back some once home, but her decline will continue. I would agree with others to try and get her placed in a memory care facility now, unless you have the funds to pay for 24/7 care at home at $30.00 an hour, sometimes higher costs. She will eventually get comfortable with where she lives if in a facility. I don’t recommend moving her multiple times. The anxiety and confusion will just start over. Expect her to always say, I want to go home, even though she probably will not remember home.
4. Most importantly, have her checked out by her doctor. She could have a UTI. There are medications and supplements she could try at home that may slow the progression of memory loss and reduce anxiety. They usually need to be increased after a couple of weeks once started to maintain effectiveness. She will still need to be monitored and cared for 24/7 at this point. In my opinion. She could fall, go to the bathroom on herself, forget to eat, forget her medication/or take too much. In a worst case, she could try to cook and catch something on fire, and leave the stove on. She could also get lost outside and not be found.
Best of luck with everything. It will not be easy and constantly tug at your heart.
Yes, being in a strange environment will set them back. But your Mom had pneumonia and may still have it. Pneumonia will cause confusion too.
Further that decline because she was not in a familiar place with familiar people.
She may return to her pre illness baseline
But she might not.
If she does it might take weeks or months.
Just assume (I know a dangerous thing to do) that she will NOT rebound and will continue to decline from this point.
Your mom can no longer return home and it's up to you now to let the rehab folks know that. You need to use the term "unsafe discharge" over and over until they help you get her placed in the appropriate facility.
You can have her checked for a UTI, just to discount the recent decline in her funtioning. I'm glad she seems to be getting great care. Even if she only sat in her recliner watching tv all day long... so what? Please resist projecting onto her how you think she should be living at her age and with her health and cognitive issues. I would let her do what she wants. She's earned it.
Kudos to you for taking such good care of her.