Has anyone had any luck with meds for dementia?
Back again with the same problem but different situation. Mom (90) is driving everyone crazy. Started about six months ago with her wanting to take up sewing again (mind you she hasn't even attempted to do so in at least the past ten years). When we oblige to "help" and then after we finally leave she calls us non-stop to help her rethread the machine or is looking for yet MORE notions, materials, lace, etc. The truth is she does not have the capacity to do this and her upstairs is becoming once again cluttered with an array of storage containers (stacked three high) that she "needs" to do her projects. And she still wants more brought up from the basement. She likes the idea of sewing, but doesn't have the patience or the skill set to do it. We try to divert her attention for simple projects, but she wants to make skirts and her mind is set. We've tried getting her interested in other things, puzzles, adult coloring books, etc., but she is stuck on sewing. She is becoming belligerent and very angry with everyone who won't cave to her demands and is especially hard on my sister. Dad tries to ignore her and I am taking her to her geriatric dr. in two weeks.
Her PCP suggested meds to calm her aggressiveness and her OCD tendencies, but feels the geriatric physician is best suited for this. Just curious to know if anyone has had positive results with medication therapy. My only other concern is that mom is a royal pain when it comes to meds. Adding a new one will be a challenge
Sorry this is so long, but it really could be a lot longer, perhaps compared to something like "War and Peace".
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I love your posts. We can just see your mom and dad and all that is going on there.
I have spent the last hour or so trying to write up for all concerned new Med Rules for my dh Aunt, 93 with dementia. The only change is putting her meds in three boxes instead of two in order to have the most important meds taken in case she’s being difficult that day on taking any of them. I’ve decided thyroid is important but it must be taken alone. So that’s in box one. Blood pressure is next and needs to be given early. That’s box two. The memory and mood, aspirin, Vitamins are in the third box. If she doesn’t take those, I don’t care at this point. She does take them 99% of the time but lately she’s giving the aides a hard time. We’ve found them under her chair before and suspect she has flushed some.
I do think they help her but she has a choice. Her dementia has progressed very slowly and for the most part she is pleasant and her aides like her but she is tired of pills. She takes Namenda and Aricept in that category and Wellbutrin.
About the sewing.
I just hired a new weekend aide and she was telling me about previous clients. About one she said “she sewed and I ripped”. I loved that. That’s probably what your mom needs. A sewing pal.