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I would get her ASAP to a geriatric psychiatrist, if she is not being seen by one already. She may need a different anti depressant, or an additional one. Ativan is not a great drug for the elderly. Klonopin is supposedly better, less rebound, fewer cases of it actually CAUSING MORE anxiety. Is there a geripsych who comes to the facility? My mother benefited tremendously from meeting with the geri psych once a week, just to chat a bit. Mom's anxiety was what landed her in IL to begin with. In retrospect, it was caused by her Mild Cog Decline.
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Debsent, I would turn off the phone during the hours you are busy. Set up call screening, add your Mom,s number to the list. I can imagine how frustrating this is for you. When my Mom's decline first began she would make these calls even in the middle of the night, to all three of her children. It will get worse. Tell Mom she either tries an antipressant, antianxiety drug to help control the behaviors or and facility making new friends that will keep her busy and away from the phone.

If you continue to answer the phone, she will continue to call. Tell hubby and daughter that they need to stop answering the calls as well. And what is your daughter doing with her cell phone on during Chemistry class?! Sorry, one of my pet peeves how people are so attached to their phones they forget about decency. I also know that in many situations a cell phone is perfectly acceptable. But not, IMHO, in a college chem class.
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I should have said 3 afternoons per week. I am also a diabetic, with uncontrolled sugar, and the extra stress doesn't help. I am wondering if this is the onset of dementia? I know it can manifest itself in different ways. Her sister was paranoid, and would shove her pills in her bra. Her entire family had dependency and anxiety issues and she feels she must behave the same.
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Thanks. I do find these comments helpful.. Mom is in independent living, which means she will have to move if she needs more care. I have repeatedly asked her doctor to put on ativan, which she took in rehab, but he refuses to do so. I get some garbage back as a response. Her hip repair was done with spinal anesthesia. She has always been helpless and anxious, and my brother now exhibits same qualities. This has worsened since Dad died in 2010. One day last week, she called every half hour from 8:am until 11:30 PM. After noon I turned off my cell. She got two neighbors and the administrator to call my husband, who was at work, and my daughter, who was in her college Chem class. I am trying to study for a professional certification test so I can get a job. Her anxiety already cost me a job. So telling her to call once a day is useless. Her fellow residents don't understand the situation. She does this even though she sees us when we buy groceries, meds, and doctor trips, 30 per week. But it helps to know I can discuss this with good people.
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Ahh, I read she is in independent living. Maybe assisted would be better suited at this time. What do her doctors say?
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Debsent, it sounds as if she refuses to take an antidepressant? You are her caregiver and she lives in a facility. So, you should ask the staff there to get her out for various activities. This will probably take some work on their part. But if Mom gets into the swing of things she may just find she enjoys it. If staff does not have the time to encourage her, most facilities will allow you to bring in an outside caregiver. Even a couple days a week, for a few weeks to get Mom interested in staying busy.

Surgery anesthesia is very hard on a elderly person's brain. In fact it was after surgery my Mom had that her dementia became more pronounced. While I think the anesthesia did something to her brain, it could have become more noticeable because following the surgery we were paying more attention to her.

Could it be that your Mom may be developing dementia? If so, the anxiety will continue to worsen as well as any other symptoms she is showing.
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Tell her you will take one call a day and no more. Tell her to get out of her room and meet some people. And if she tells you she is anxious, tell her to take her meds. If she is forgetting meds, maybe an ALF would be better, they dispense meds and that has made a huge difference for our mom.
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