Can you get dementia from a hospital stay?

2 factors at work here.
Anesthesia can wreck havoc on a persons brain, and if the person is older it is worse.
There is a condition called Hospital delirium and from what I have read it can take weeks or months to recover.
I would contact her doctor and make them aware of this.
Go on line and read some of the ways to help her recover from this if it is hospital delirium.
Also...check for UTI there are over the counter test strips that can give you an idea.

Years ago my dad had a knee replacement and came out of surgery a crazy person. Before he was normal. They told us some elderly people have a reaction to the anesthesia that brings on dementia. He came out of it in a couple weeks luckily but was told some don’t. She could of had a mini stroke. It sure is not easy I am on year 4 caring for my mom with dementia. Good luck stay strong and be happy!

My mom constantly gets UTI’s requiring hospital stays. After about 4 days or so she gets what her doctor said hospital delirium. After she’s out and home in her surroundings after a few days she back to her normal. The longer you stay in hospital the longer it lasts. Hope this helps. I googled it too so I can make myself more aware and I do see what the doctor says. Wishing you luck. I know it sucks. Earlier this month mom was in and she had delirium times right with full moon. It was a poop show.

Check Mom for a bladder infection. My Mom who is 96 was in Independent Living, doing well. Within a week she quit eating, became very confused. She is now in Assisted Living with dementia. She had a bladder infection which the doctor neglected to treat. She was finally treated and doing a little better. I don’t know if the bladder infection caused her sudden decline but it sure seems to be a major part of her problem.

My mother was hospitalized with a gallbladder infection at age 92, hospitalized for 17 days, then went to rehab which became her permanent SNF placement. Previously to the hospitalization, she lived "independently" in her own condo.

She descended (further) into dementia. I say "further" because if she could totally control her environment in her condo, she could mask it to many people. I, the local sib, saw her decline (and finally my long-distance brothers did, also).

Honestly, she had only 1 or 2 lucid days after that hospitalization, and she died less than 6 months later in the SNF.

Reassure her and give her more time to recover. The medical problem itself, the procedure and the anaesthesia could all together and individually have contributed to her current mental upset, and it's too early to say whether this has to be permanent or not.

Meanwhile, help her keep her tasks and routines clear-cut, deliberate and with plenty of rest breaks in between. Remind her that she is still in the convalescent phase and must cut herself plenty of slack.

Examples of how to help: a display clock showing time with clear day/night markings, day and date. A timetable for each day, and a calendar for the week. If she's struggling with the phone then consider getting one where the speed dial numbers have the person's photo next to them - but go carefully before you replace any devices or appliances that she's very familiar with, and make sure the new one really is easier *for her* to use.

Does she have support with continence care, personal care, and medications? - besides you, I mean?

Above all, lay on the reassurance with a trowel. She's been through an ordeal, God willing this will get better, and don't panic :)

[Did the procedure sort out the bowel obstruction? No residual underlying causes to worry about?]

My first MIL aged 93 did exactly the same thing. She went into hospital, found it very upsetting, and was never the same afterwards. She lived to 99, and recovered a fair bit, but never to her pre-hospital state. I don’t think anyone did anything wrong, it was just too different, too threatening, too much unpleasant change for her settled way of living. Clearly she didn't 'catch it' in hospital.

My father recovered 100% from this exact scenario after a hospitalization and 21 days in rehab. Mom too, although not 100% because she was already diagnosed with dementia beforehand. So her dementia got worse with the hospital delirium after rehab.

Give your mom a couple of months to reorient herself before you draw any conclusions about her permanently.

Good luck to you

Everything Beatty said and don’t let her be put on Aricept or Namenda, at least until she has had a LOT of normal routine with time to recover and don’t do other procedures that require anesthesia unless absolutely necessary is my not a doctor advice.

Sadly, delirium seems to fast forward the decline that was inching forward prior to the hospital stay.

She has lived a nice long life and this can be a wake up call to get all essential paperwork and bucket lists taken care of.
Get lots of help. Let us know how she is doing.

I’m 58. This past Oct/Nov, after major surgery, I was in the hospital for a total of 9 days for complications.

When I came out, I had trouble getting ideas from my brain to my tongue. I literally couldn’t find the correct words. This particular issue lasted 2 months. It was most upsetting. Apparently, my brain was too stressed to work correctly.

I could type just fine. But, verbally, I was way off. It was so very frustrating.

I can very much understand what an operation and hospital/rehab stays might do to cause delirium in someone who is 94.

I am sorry that this is happening to your mother.

Yes is the quick answer.

This is, unfortunately, very very common.

Rather than dementia, this is called *delerium*.

People over 65 are more at risk. Top triggers are
1. infections (UTI, chest infection/pneumonia, Covid)
2. Anaesthetics
3. ICU stay
4. Hospital stay
5. Medication withdrawal
6. Dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, low sodium

All these cause stress on the body & brain.

It can last days, weeks, fluctuate for weeks, or even be the new level of functioning.

Be patient. Be hopeful. But also be practical & arrange more care for Mother, more hands to help you so you don't burn out.