My dad has Alzheimer's and fell. He went to the hospital where they gave him Dilaudid for pain and he hasnt been the same since. Its been days and now they dont seem to know why his dementia has gotten so much worse. They are now saying that they want to take him the psych ward. My sister fears it is to evaluate him that his decline was normal not due to the heavy drug side effects.. Is this a scary place for an alzheimers patient?
Does your husband have a neurologist he has seen regularly before the nursing home? If so, can you make an appointment for him? Also, you have every right to ask why every single medication is being given. Better yet, get a copy of his meds, call the neuro and email or fax the list to them.
Docs at nursing homes are covering all the patients there. I'm sorry to say they cannot get to know your husband. The CNAs that are there likely find him easier to deal with now that he is somnolent. If you think he is in danger now, then get him to the hospital. If you think you have time, get an appointment with the neuro. Find another nursing home.
Speak to the social worker on the unit and schedule a care plan meeting with nurse, social worker and physician. What is their plan for him? Do they know you want to bring him home? Why isn't he eating or taking fluids? Yes, you can get a list of his meds and speak to his neurologist, but he needs to be tested for other issues if he has had such physical and mental changes. Did he have a stroke or just seizures. Has he had CT scans to see what might have occurred?
No person in a nursing home should be allowed to just lie in bed not eating and drinking or moving. He will get bedsores in no time under those conditions. He can have physical therapy once the medication effect is taken out of the picture.
If he walked with a walker on admission, he should be able to be rehabilitated to walk with it again ( provided he can follow the instructions of the physical therapist). The longer he lays n bed the more the muscles become debilitated ( weaker and weaker) , but with proper Physical Therapy he can be rehabilitated again.
Yes , get him out of there, but with guidance, home care,( social worker can set this up), and if you think he needs hospitalization for the change in his mentation or functioning or for testing, then advocate for that!
Best of everything-