Do you know why he refuses them? Are they difficult to swallow? Is he paranoid about them being poisoned? Does he think he is fine and he doesn't need pills?
Persons with dementia can refuse pills for lots of different reasons. It isn't always possible to find the reason out, but it can be helpful if you know what the issue is.
Actually, I have the same question and the same problem. My Mom with dementia does not want to take her meds because she thinks she dont need them, or she says that she has already taken them. The reason why is not the issue...the issue is HOW do I get her to take her meds?
Agree with Jeanne. Find out which are the most important ones and try and get them down first. Check with your pharmacist if there is a liquid form of anything and have dr order that. Also ask the paharmacist what can and can not be crushed and try that. id there a time of day when he is more co operative for example in the evening. Traditionally once a day pills are given in the morning but most can be switched to evening for example B/P meds work just as well at night. Don''t give diuretics later than mid day though. A talk with the pharmacist would be good just choose a time when he is not busy.
We checked with my mom's dr and was advised we could use a pill grinder and mash up the pills and mix with yogurt applesauce or some other food that she would eat, wallla no more med problems
At my Mom's nursing home, they had the pill crusher and put them in applesauce. Worked every time! We used to tell my Mom it was aspirin so she wouldn't have any pain, that helped sometimes. Also, some Alzheimer's meds can be with a patch.
Whenever my dad refuses, my mom will just wait a little while, then try again. He has usually forgotten that he was refusing to take them by then. Sometimes, I will comment on how big the pills are (or how many there are) and act impressed that he can swallow them. Then, like a small child would, he will quickly take them just to show that he can swallow them. ;)
Do you know the reason why he won't take them? Is it because he doesn't think he is sick He doesn't like he way they make him feel? Is he being stubborn? Does he have a hard time swallowing them? Which pills? Is he on anti-psychotics as part of his regimen? If so, some anti-psychotic meds are available in monthly injections.... I think there is one now in a three month injection. Perfect for non-compliance. Any others maybe you can mix with food but you better check with the doctor or pharmacist first because that can be a problem depending on what it is.
I bought a pill crusher (an expensive one, because my arthritic hands couldn't do the cheapie kind). It is called "Silent Knight." You put the pills in a little plastic bag that comes with the machine, push down on the handle and it crushes the pill to a powder. I mix it with applesauce or yogurt and give it to him. He was having trouble swallowing the pills and this works so much better! I found it on the internet!
Is it possible to hide the medication in something? It might be possible to get the medication formulated as a liquid, or open a capsule and mix it in pudding or applesauce. Speak with his doctor.
Is he taking LOTS of pills? Address that first. I'd talk with his doctor about eliminating any drugs that aren't alleviating discomfort or controlling behavior or mood. Like a statin, for example. You have to be proactive about this. A doctor generally won't say "there's really no point to this drug anymore so I'm taking him off of it." Folks with dementia wind up on a dozen different drugs (interacting wildly).
I run into this problem with my husband, its always I have never had to take a pill my entire life, I just don't get involved in his discussion, and he will finally take them. After discussion with Dr I was able to eliminate some meds (hes 83) which really helped, and if it becomes a real issue I only have him take the essential, calming pills. I have to keep an eye out as every once in awhile he pours the juice on the pills (in a shot glass.) Mashing up pills is really for those with swallowing problems, I think your situation is more like he feels he doesn't need them.
Ferris, "don't lose sleep over this", if my husband does not have his essential meds I would have the devil at my door, and what about night meds for sleeping, a little tough staying awake 24/7 waiting for the next shoe to drop. Romelie Get the meds into him someway, for your own sanity.
Then hide them in applesauce or yogurt. Maybe he has no gag reflex and it is difficult to swallow. Ask the doctor to check. Again, he has a terminal illness.
Yes, definitely hide them in his food. They become like children and children don't like to take medicine so they can act up. So do what you would do for children. We did this for my mom - it always worked.
Mom went through this. Rather than refuse pills, she hid them. The solution was to get everything in crushable or liquid form and mix with something she likes.
Twopupsmom, I think ferris1 is talking about blood pressure meds and/or statins, etc., NOT the comfort meds, such as antidepressants, anti-anxiety, bowel meds, sleep aids, etc. The blood pressure, cholesterol, and maintenance antibiotics are life-sustaining medications of a sort. Palliative care is most important in a terminal illness, especially with people over 90, in my humble opinion.
Reminds me of the time my FIL wouldn't take his meds. The nursing home called and said had them in his clenched fist and they couldn't walk away from him. I shot down there with my 6 year old daughter. We walked in his room and she went to him and sweetly said, "Pa, you need to take your medicine." He said OK and popped them in his mouth. You never know why, you just have to be patient and creative. Crush them with pudding or apple sauce. Some meds make their stomach hurt and need to be taken with food and a tums. Sometimes they are just being cranky. Sometimes they think you are poisoning them. This disease really sucks!
yes daughter, that's what I agreed with, the essential comfort meds, anti anxiety, sleeping pills, are a must, I have stopped his Statin, Pradaxa (internal bleeding is much worse the small chance of a stroke) I did keep up the Exelon Patch & Namenda, but they could really go soon also. the patches really irritate my husbands skin, and I know how to move them daily, still irritates him.
My Dad will REFUSE if pills are crushed in anything. He still has enough working in his brain that he wants to SEE the pills and count them and remembers how many he supposed to have. He knows nothing else about them anymore. I guess it's the mathematician in him! Anyhow, even while at home, he would insist he had already taken them. We used to dish meds into one of those weekly containers, because when doing for self, he could no longer remember if he did or didn't take them. Then, even using the container, he would just dump out a cubicle and not pay attention to the day, so I started phoning him to 'visit' and in that process would ask if he'd taken his meds. Frequently he would say yes, and I would ask him just to check the day and tell me if 'Mondays were still there' for ex. With Mom's help, we knew if he had or had not. Sometimes, that would be enough for him to agree to take them. Sometimes he would argue and not want to. I would just keep 'visiting' and then ask all over again. Most of the time with some redirection and coming back to the pills again, he would easily take them....already not remembering the previous discussion. At his facility, on a refusal, they simply say OK...and go to the next person or two and then come back. Occasionally, if he still doesn't want to take them, they tell him, or Mom will tell him, that the doctor ordered them to 'help his brain work better'.....for him....that phrase...'to make your brain work better' is entrenched into him....and he will agree to most anything! He was so upset about having dementia when first diagnosed....and really really worked to do all he could to keep his brain functioning as well as possible....that it still clicks with him that he wants to cooperate with this! Try the diversion and walk away and then reapproach about taking meds again....and see if that works first.
Has anyone thought that maybe he is feeling side effects from these pills and has made his own decision that he doesnt want to take them ? Many psychotropic drugs have horrendous side effects yet they are being forced upon elderly people like candy. I do not agree with it at all. The effects of these harsh drugs can be fatal in the elderly. It is time people diagnosed with dementia and mental illness had more of a say in their own care . Some of these drugs create symptoms worse than the initial complaint !! Elderly people deserve more respect than this . Most are given far too many pills !
It seems to me that the question is not why, but how to get him to take the meds. Mom's NH crushes them and sprinkles them on the food. There are liquid versions and patches to try. We don't need to know why. Why is b/c they have AD.
My mom has dementia and ALS. We have a 'care package' of liquid medications to administer as needed. She also has a few medications in lotion form (halperidol, diazepam, & lorazepam.) Plus, she has a pain patch (change every 3 days) and Exelon patch changed daily. The high blood pressure pill and glipizide are only in pill form. I just leave on the table next to her plate of food for her to take. I never even announce there next to her plate of food. When I come back, mostly the little cup is empty & all pills are gone. Btw, I've tried to scare her into taking them and it doesn't work. She just digs her heels in more.
My husband went thru that, their are times they think different things. Try and put in her ice cream, putting it in anything she may like to eat or drink. It isn't easy. A different person may help also.
I know how you feel about medicines. My husband would never ever take a single pill if I didn't urge him to. It is very hard giving out meds three times a day, with quite a few pills each time. But they do help. It just makes it hard on me feeling like The Big Bad Wolf.......marymember
My mom thinks she's taking vitamins. She won't take drugs, but the facility can get her to take vitamins. Whatever works today.
If my mom doesn't get her Risperdol and Prozac, she turns into a mean, fighting, biting, spitting and hitting maniac. The blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, constipation, and whatever else are second in priority to the mental health pills.
Oddly enough, she would never have been caught with a vitamin pre-dementia.
Truffles - What is too many pills? My mom is on a number of meds prescribed for specific conditions - all life threatening if untreated. They aren't candy she picked up at the corner store she should cut back on because of cavities.
She is not competent to make decisions about her own care anymore. That ship sailed a long time ago. If it were up to her, she'd be sitting in her own waste, filthy, dirty, and malnourished, yelling at hallucinations.
People with early dementia can help make decisions, but eventually - and sooner than later with some - that is just not appropriate, possible, or adviseable.
The doctor & I talked and decided the side effect risks were less than the consequences of NOT taking meds.
Yes but many dementia patients are given antipsychotic drugs which can cause premature death . They act like a chemical labotomy. Not nice for a frail old person. Infact I think it is cruel . These drugs can cause incontinence and hallucinations plus tardive dyskinesia (look it up) Many doctors and especially psychiatrists have shares in drug companies. Old people cannot tolerate such harsh drugs It is unfair and things need to change. Our elders deserve more respect.
Persons with dementia can refuse pills for lots of different reasons. It isn't always possible to find the reason out, but it can be helpful if you know what the issue is.
It helped with two problems: Got the pill into her and two, the smashing of the pill helped with my stress levels :)
Seriously, just crush the pill and put it in her food. She won't even know because I'm betting her taste is also gone.
If my mom doesn't get her Risperdol and Prozac, she turns into a mean, fighting, biting, spitting and hitting maniac. The blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, constipation, and whatever else are second in priority to the mental health pills.
Oddly enough, she would never have been caught with a vitamin pre-dementia.
She is not competent to make decisions about her own care anymore. That ship sailed a long time ago. If it were up to her, she'd be sitting in her own waste, filthy, dirty, and malnourished, yelling at hallucinations.
People with early dementia can help make decisions, but eventually - and sooner than later with some - that is just not appropriate, possible, or adviseable.
The doctor & I talked and decided the side effect risks were less than the consequences of NOT taking meds.