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My 97 year old Mom has Parkinson’s with dementia. She has started to refuse her medication. Her Parkinson’s meds are timed so she can at least have some movement. I feel that when she refuses the meds it because she is a bit out of her mind. Can I force her to take it?

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PS, We're all sick of the Parkinson's situation. New book just out weeks ago, by two great neurologists called The Parkinson's Plan. You can understand why Parkinson's is a growing neurological problem likely caused by exposure to toxic chemicals, (and not just Agent Orange or what polluted the water at Camp Lejeunue). In the US another person is being diagnosed every six minutes.
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Reply to vegaslady
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Parkinson's patient responding here. Do not stop her Parkinson's meds without consulting her doctor. Without her basic Parkinson's gold standard meds of Carbidopa/Levadopa her motor symptom will worsen within hours. That means more rigidity, slowness, possibly freezing of gait, etc. And those are the visble changes you'll see. That doesn't cover the autonomic body functions like digestion. It may also lead to more mood related problems.
Because of the complexity of the new subcutaneous pump system it might be hard to handle for someone with impaired thinking. They might pull out the needle or tangle up the tubing.
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Reply to vegaslady
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My husband has Parkinson’s and meds are on time all the time.
I believe they have pumps now and perhaps even patches.
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Reply to Evamar
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bethny58: Pose your concerns to her physician.
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Reply to Llamalover47
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Maybe Mom is wanting an end this terrible illness? I can't imagine living to 97 myself. She's had a very long life, so probably is sick of the whole Parkinsons situation.

All I can think of is trying a small milkshake, and putting the meds in that. What are these meds for anyway? She's not going to be cured by taking them. I'm surprised she doesn't want to move....but at that age, it's her choice.

I wouldn't force someone 97 years old to take anything. It's just not worth it. You can ask her Doctor what is the worst case if she stops the meds? Go from there.
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Reply to Dawn88
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Funny that you say that she has times of confusion and refuses medications. My MIL, for whom I am caregiver with my husband - her son- exhibits this behavior when her UTI is out of control and we do a round of antibiotics.. Her are other things I have done that might help. 1. I use a stern quiet calm voice and say “you have to take these meds or I you will be up all night and I will be up all night and I have to have my sleep. You have to take these. 2. She says “are you trying to kill me?” I say it is these pills that are keeping you alive. 3. First thing up in AM, sits up in bed - give before we dress or toilet and she never refuses at this time..why?? I have no clue. 4. Give when she wakes up to toilet in middle of night. I put meds in one hand, milk in other and say “here take these.” She always does though she does not always wake up in night. 5. Show her the med case where it has morning noon and night and let her open it and see that you are not just giving pills. 6. I say “If you don’t take we will end up back in hospital and we don’t want that.” She now takes blood thinners due to clots that caused a stroke a few weeks ago. I have eliminated all vitamins and other supplements that are not prescribed. Sometimes we just don’t take pills and we deal with the consequences as they arise.
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Reply to RetiredBrain
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"A bit out of her mind." Hmm. Maybe not being able to understand the benefits and consequences of not taking the medication? What would a reasonable, responsible person do in a situation like this. I have a good idea about what they would do in a facility. Using the least restrictive force facilitate your mother with taking her medication.
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Reply to johnawheeler
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You should not force your mom to take anything at that age.
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Reply to Onlychild2024
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A friend mentioned a new method/formulation, Vyalev and it is administered continuously (24 hours) subcutaneously using a pump. Since it bypasses the stomach a number of problems with dosing & timing are avoided.
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Reply to ItsComplex
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I know one woman in her 90s who was just diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Her main complaint is it makes her very sleepy. Ask about the side effects.
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Reply to Ariadnee
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Ask your pharmacist if her meds are available in patch or suppository form. Best of luck!
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Reply to BarbBrooklyn
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JeanLouise Sep 14, 2025
If she’s refusing a pill I highlight doubt a suppository will be accepted
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Please discuss solutions with mom's medical doctor who has prescribed these medications. It is difficult now to come up with options, but you may be looking at anything from injectables when available to Hospice and Palliative options. This is an individual problem for an individual patient that has to involve the POA or next of kin/ MPOA and the medical team.

I am so very sorry you're going through this.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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Since mom is home with you there are things you can do that could not be done in a facility.
Talk to the doctor.
Some medications can be dosed as a patch that is applied someplace on the body where a person can not easily reach it. (middle of the back) Some medications can be done as a liquid that is easier to stir into food or drink. (you do have to make sure the entire portion is consumed)

Some pills, tablets should not be crushed or broken. Capsules in general are not to be opened. so ask before you try crushing or breaking any to give. Some times the best information is from the Pharmacist they are easier to get hold of than the doctor and often have more knowledge about medication formulation.
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Reply to Grandma1954
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bethny58 Sep 9, 2025
Good idea, , I don’t know if Parkinson’s meds can be administered that way. I’ll ask her doctor
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By force her, do you mean sneak the medication into her food? If so, before doing this, read the medication information since some pills are not meant to be crushed, dissolved or broken in half. Often crushed pills are incredibly bitter so you'll need to figure out what food will help hide the taste. As a kid, my Mom used to crush up aspirin and give it to me in a spoonful of jelly but it wasn't enough to cover the bitterness.

Or, is your Mom having trouble swallowing the medication? More information would be helpful.
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Reply to Geaton777
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bethny58 Sep 9, 2025
To clarify, when my Mom is in a state of confusion she refuses the medication even if we put it in apple sauce. I don’t crush it just lay it on top of the spoon and try that way. But at times I have to close her mouth so she doesn’t spit it out. It’s just awful
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