Follow
Share

What's going on? 68 years in her home, and in the past two weeks, she's been in the hospital and now rehab. She has slight dementia, but generally knows what's going on, who the family is, etc. With this big change, she talks in a loop about certain things. Today it was her call button for the nurse. All day, explaining to me what the call button does, that it calls the nurse, not the aide, but if she needs the aide the nurse can ask. The clip on the call button is not a button, it goes on her shirt (she thought it was another call button, I think). I redirect her to talk about something else, and she's back talking about the call button within seconds. It's like a skipping record. I can't tell if she knows she's doing this. If/When I try to redirect her or remind her that she's told me this before, she goes "I know, I know, I'm just telling you that when you hit this button, the nurse comes and she can tell me if I need the aide or the nurse, see, this clip goes on my clothes......" It's alarming, and so incredibly frustrating. What is going on? Do others experience this?

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
I believe new pain meds could definitely be a cause of the behaviors you're seeing. The problems with 97-year-old patients is that they don't process meds the way younger people do. And the average doctor isn't knowledgeable enough about how to dose very senior patients. I've had that with my 96-year-old mom and meds. And my mom is super sensitive to any new meds.

In some way, maybe your nana is trying to shrink her very changed environment down to one thing she can understand and control - the call button. I think your nana is lucky to have such a caring granddaughter. Just support her and listen to her and redirect her as best you can.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

When seniors with dementia are hospitalized and then put into rehab, it's very hard on them. The change in routine/schedules (and sometimes medications) throws them for a loop. I'd just keep trying what you're trying. Your nana may settle down once she's back in a regular routine or she may stay at this level of dementia.

You could also see if she's on any new medications that might be causing this behavior or if they've taken her off of her previous meds. You don't say why she was hospitalized and is now in rehab. Did she have a fall? If so, she could have had a stroke or TIA, which can also alter behavior.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

Blannie, thank you! She had slight pneumonia, swelling in her extremities, low oxygen levels... no fall or stroke. Just general downhill slide and she's in rehab to get her strength up a bit and get her moving better. They have been giving her some pain meds for some back issues, but this all started pretty much the first day she was in the hospital, before any new meds were given or old meds were discontinued. I assume this is just what happens when you're 97 and there's such a gigantic change... it's like her brain can't process it and it's just stuck on certain concepts. It's abrupt and I'm hoping I'm doing the right thing by redirecting her.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter