Mom insists on using the commode even though she cannot hold herself up. Will a catheter help?
Mom has been in Hospice care for nearly two months and has declined with each passing week. She is now at a point where she is bedridden, yet still insists on getting up and going on the commode. She gets very agitated when we try to persuade her to remain in bed as she is wearing diapers. She does this twice a day, and gets hostile. She is becoming a threat to herself and us as it is very hard to to do this as she is dead weight. Other than these few outbursts, she sleeps continually. She has eaten very little over the past week, and will drink an Ensure once or twice (but not every day). When in this agitated state she will try to spit out her meds. She gets Haldol and Ativan 3X per day, Morphine every three hours. Will Hospice increase her meds to keep her sedated continually or use a catheter to ease her distress? They thought for sure she would pass away last weekend, but she rallied and is now waking up and is very difficult to deal with. She has Vascular Dementia.
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Normally if a person is confined to bed a Hoyer is not needed as much since she is using disposable briefs (diapers) BUT if she is so instant that she gets agitated then the goal of Hospice is to keep her calm and comfortable and if this is what she wants to do then ordering a Hoyer should not be a problem.
It is worth asking about.
The "problem" with a catheter is that many dementia patients will pull out tubes this is IV's, feeding tubes and catheters.
And even with a catheter if she still feels the urge to urinate even if her bladder is empty she will still want to get up.
Catheters can lead to increased UTI's as well.
Maybe somewhere deep in her brain she still "knows" that getting onto the toilet is "right" and to go in your pants is "wrong" and even through the dementia she is wants to do "right".
((hugs)) peace to both of you.
feel for you very much with this.
I would try a catheter and bed pan. My dad has a catheter we have tried bed pan but it can be a little uncomfortable if they need some more time.
dad has a butrans patch which is 24 hour releasing pain relief, liquid medication is also good.
sending love
God bless.
What you said was cold and heartless, and I can't help but pity the person you're caring for or cared for.
I wonder if transferring to a hospice facility would be a consideration at this point?
I know you are caring for your dad as well so a lot to coordinate for all concerned.