Mom has UTI and refuses to take the antibiotics. Is there any way to make her take medications?

I guess my question would be, does this lady understand that she could die from an untreated UTI?

If she does, and she understands that she may end up dead from the infection going septic, then it's her decision.

My father decided he had had enough and requested no more medical care. He had been in a NH for about 5 yrs after a fall and head injury but basically was up and around. Personally, I felt that was his right, he had had enough. His life, his choice. I thought of this when I took my mother(92) to a neurologist Monday. She’s had a number of strokes, Dr felt since she’s been on eliquis it kept them from killing her but she’s miserable and hateful and is getting worse mentally but physically not that bad. She’s afraid of death so doesn’t want to die but had she not been on the eliquis would be dead. I can’t really say which I think is the better result. Sometimes meds may keep us alive but for what?

If she has not been diagnosed / declared as incompetent then you can not force her to take her medication.
If this is important to you you could try to have her declared incompetent and become her guardian at that point you can force her to take her medications. (Or she would be appointed a Guardian by the court) She would probably have to be moved from Assisted Living to Memory Care. (Or at least be admitted to the hospital so her medications can be administered.)
Another option would be to let her do as she wishes for as long as she can. You could encourage her to take the medications or if she will not do that at least increase fluid intake, drink cranberry juice and or cranberry supplements. The infection will run its course and get better or get worse.
Sorry I'm not much help here but you can not force someone to do what you want them to do. You can try to motivate them, you can try to change their mind about something but you can not force someone. (short of restraining them). It also depends on the policy of the Assisted Living facility where she is do they administer medication? and if they do so will she be then charged for a higher level of care? (You might want to mention this to your mom if she is concerned about cost)

Cherylcheryl124, if the antibiotic comes in pill form, maybe that pill can be crushed and mixed into ice cream or pudding. It all depends on the pill and what one can do to the pill.

I remember the nursing home crushing pills for my Mom and placed into her favorite chocolate ice cream. What was interesting afterwards Mom wouldn't eat regular non-pill ice cream, she would say that it didn't taste good :)

She is a consenting adult and thereby can make her own decisions, even bad ones.

If she continues to refuse the antibiotics her bad attitude will get worse, this is a symptom of UTI in seniors. Then her system will become septic, full of toxin, and she could very well die without intervention and if it gets bad enough, she could very well die with intervention.

I would tell her that and see if it shifts her willingness to comply.

I am surprised that no one has mentioned this to her or you before, doctors and nurses, even CNAs know how serious this is.

You may be better served letting the state take over as her guardian, it is hard enough dealing with a senior without all the baggage she packed for you all.

Hugs, it is okay to not be her advocate, just make sure and get her one. She should be paying her own way also, you children should not be paying anything for her.

When my mom was in the nursing home I watched the daily dance between the nurses and a woman who was resistant to taking her insulin. While it's true they can't "force" someone to take medication a good nurse can certainly reason with, trick, cajole, or do whatever it takes to get compliance. Ask them to try harder.

I agree with Barb. Does this woman know she will get septic and probably die? The elderly do not have the symtoms of a UTI as younger people do, the burning and itching. They just tend to get combative and Dementia seems to worsen.

Aside from the ethical considerations "tricking" those mentally competent isn't easy, at least not the second time.
On the other hand a little sleight of hand is sometimes all it takes - I watched an encounter where the nurse asked someone if she would taste her pudding as it was a new recipe and she wanted her opinion, of course the meds were mixed in the spoonful. After accepting the lady replied "well you sure as h** can't cook"!

Dunno if this will help but there is a liquid med for UTI; maybe for other things too; Cephalexin. Taste is pleasant. Have used it. Did the job.

Under Federal Law a long-term care community can not "force" a resident to take their medication.

That being said there are some things they can try. One of the problems with a UTI is that it can cause a senior to become confused. I would ask the home to try and crush her medication and mix it with something she likes, applesauce, ice cream, pudding. Another thing they can do is request a liquid medication that can be mixed with something she likes to drink.