Mom has a UTI and is dehydrated, I feel guilty because I thought she had dementia. Advice?

Gershen - usually when the doctor gives you a cup, the patient goes in and immediately gives the sample. I'm wondering why the doctor allowed the cup to go home with the patient and why the doctor didn't follow up to find out what the results were?

I went through the same thing and it is scary. One of the first things that alert me to a UTI with my mom is the odor in her urine. You'll know from that as will everyone else. Then we face at least 2 nights and days without sleep along with the delirium usually.My mom has been getting them about every 3 weeks. I asked our pcp why they don't run a urine sample on a regular basis just like blood work and he said medicare doesn't pay for it. I'd rather pay for the urinalisis on a regular basis than go through this. Hang in there

Good grief how much does it cost to have a nurse stick a test strip in a paper cup of pee.
It is good to remember that all nurses and Dr's are not necessarily trained in all the areas they are practicing in. A very good PCG may have absolutely no experience with dementia and not know what to look for. A nurse with an acute care background is used to infections presenting with high fevers. yes she should know if she is working with hospice patients but anyone new to hospice has a very steep learning curve to climb and there is no special training. Another thing to consider is whether you want to put your loved one through the discomfort of antibiotics when they will feel nausious, off their food and have diarrhea.
Anyone who feels their loved on has a lot of quality of life ahead of them and wants agressive treatment for things like UTI should take the patient to see a specialist. Some Drs will treat frequent UTIs with various combinations of continuous antibiotics. Maybe 2 weeks on drug A then 2 weeks off and two weeks of drug B. the caregivers do have to do their part though keeping the patient really clean and changed as soon as they are wet. a warm wet depends is an ideal breeding ground for nasty bugs. You changed your babies every few hours and washed their nether regions so it is just as important to do the same with the elders. As we age weare less concerned with personal hygiene and consider a quick swipe with a wet wipe is good enough. It isn't, the genital area needs to cleaned with warm water and possibly soap at least twice daily with someone who gets frequent UTIs. use good quality paper towels for this Handwashing must also be supervised. yes you may have a fight on your hands but that may be better than three nights of hallucinations and wandering till the antibiotic kicks in.
It is also very very important for the correct antibiotic to be prescribed and this means a specimen has to be sent to the lab for what are called culture and sensitivities. The urine is spread on an agar plate and discs of common antibiotics are spread around. the pathologist looks at the bugs that have grown and can identify them and sees which areas are clear around the antibiotic discs. that way he knows which antibiotic shouls be prescribed. That may be the test the Dr said would not be covered frequently by Medicare as it is probably quite expensive.

It's not your fault, until you've had these experiences or been exposed to medical issues you might not know. any time there is a sudden change in behavior, not eating, increased confusion, agitation, pacing etc. then you should suspect that there is something medical happening. Just because she has dementia doesn't mean she won't exhibit signs of confusion or strange behavior when she is sick. She's luck to have you. Some doctors don't explore that possibility with there patients with dementia. When my dad became ill, I thought a UTI, he was on the floor crawling, pacing, in and out of bed--he had pneumonia. I stress to family members to learn what you can about dementia and other ailments that can plague the elderly such as UTI symptoms. It may appear differently each time. Make sure you have plenty of drinks on hand for your mom such as water, juice (if her medications allows for juice), tea, not so much soda. People with dementia may need a reminder to drink. You can contact your local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association to learn more about dementia, what's 'normal', behaviors and how to manage them etc. You can also contact your local Area Agency on Aging for more info on caregiving and/or in home assistance programs. Love your mom each day and enjoy the time you have left with her.

Liltdogtoo in retrospect I should of taken my mom right to the lab that day and got her urine sample checked. As I recall my mom was tired that day and assured me that she would get it there. I know in the past they used to check your urine right in the office.I know some places still do.

Would of, should of, could of...... Hindsight is twenty twenty I guess. :(

The exchange of information,experiences, and opinions on this site are often more valuable than a costly visit to a doctor. This being said, doesn't mean you should forego an office visit. Oftentimes, trying a a simple remedy is all that is needed. However, if an office visit is warrented for your elderly parent, then it is certainly helpful to be armed with informed questions. Our roles as sons and daughters of our parents now include being their health advocate, it is a role which is ever expanding .