My MIL is 82 and has been diagnosed with dementia. She has refused meds for it, but is obsessed with being RXed Semaglutide for weight loss.

Ozempic for weight loss alone is $1400 or more a month when insurance refuses to approve it, which is always when its not for diabetes. MIL doesn't need a shot in her fat roll once a week to lose weight, just a reduction in her food intake. Just tell her NO, her Doctor nixed the RX and change the subject. You'll be happy to clean her house out of junk food, though, to help her on her quest to lose weight 🙄

Semaglutide, also known as Ozempic is like a cult drug here now. All over the net as a weight loss drug & people needing it for diabetes control & finding it hard to get.

Obesity is a risk factor for dementia - but also for pretty much any disease I guess. A better working vascular system gets oxygenated blood moving around the brain cells better & therefore lowers dementia risk. But my guess is MIL is not spruking this kind of info. Some elders become a little fixated on their looks & grooming with Alz/Dementia.

One lady I met last week (prob early 80s). Not concerned with diet, exercise, rehab goals but very concerned if her hair was looking ok? Happy to sit combing her hair.

My approach for your MIL would be "I am not your Doctor. I am also not your Pharmacist. Therefore I cannot prescribe or obtain medications for you". I would advise her to take what her Doctor prescribes. I may help her to feel good about her hair & clothes choices instead, if vanity is becoming a thing.

Her doctor refused, so case closed. No one needs to continue to talk with her on this subject. Just keep changing the topic or hang up.

People with dementia are often child-like and demanding. You don't have to pay any attention to any of it. it's obviously irrational so just stop feeding into the conversation.

To be honest there are NO medications proven to slow mental decline at this point.
Let that go.
And as far as the weight loss, the answer is "The doctor says no, and that is that; And we will absolutely NOT go against his advice in this matter".

It seems that your MIL, having dementia, has some things going here, and she likely always will. In fact you can expect a whole lot more of this. It is time to give up the thinking that it is all about happy-all-the-time. Learn to embrace the need to say no.

As to insisting on medications? I think that is quite pointless at this time. Just my humble opinion. Not worth the upset.

I wish you all good luck.

My stepmother has an eating issue long before we realized dementia came into play. It has been a battle. She now in MC still worries about getting fat, she is a perfect weight.

I would see if the doctor would give her a placebo.

Your husband just needs to say NO, it is a complete sentence, with dementia one is unable to make sound responsible decisions so we must do it for them.

Can't the Dr give her a fake shot or sugar pill just to appease her? It will make things easier all around if you just play into it. Tell her the Dementia pill is the Semagutide in pill form. Time for those little white lies.