Kate, has your sister been recently tested for an Urinary Tract Infection [UTI]? If not, get her to an Urgent Care or her primary doctor as quickly as possible. An UTI symptoms can mimic that of dementia, with hallucinations, etc This can be corrected with antibiotics, if in fact it is a UTI, which are common.
Being 66 is still very young to be giving up. Sounds like she has other medical issues. If so, what are those issues?
I agree with Freqflyer. I'd get her to the doctor. Has she been under a doctor's care? Ask for tests to see if it's a UTI or some other infection. Is she taking medications? Is she depressed? I'd try to get doctors to figure it out, since it could be any number of things. Some of which are treatable and curable.
She had a UTI which was left untreated for 2 weeks. She has severe RA and is not mobile so I called an Ambulance to take her to Emergency room. By that time she had been on anti-biotics for 10 days so urine was clear. She was still delusional and hallucinating and they sent her home knowing she has no bowel movement for approx. 2 weeks. They gave her fluid through IV so she has perked up some but still rambles about nonsense stuff. This is her 4th or 5th episode of this. I wonder if one time she doesn't get her mind back at all? Or how long she can go without eating or drinking? Will her kidneys shut down or what? She is being taken care of by her husband and he and I do not get along at all so that's why I am reaching out to you guys for help. Thank you. Kate
I would think that the ER referred her to follow up with her own MD. Is there any reason her husband isn't doing that? I'd start with her own MD and ask for a referral to a psychiatrist. If you aren't her healthcare POA, I'm not sure how much power you have, but, I'd ask her husband to attend to her needs. Is he okay? What are the other family members saying about this?
I would suggest some relief from the costipation would be imperitive. Funny they didn't give her an enema while in ER. To me, that would be the first order of business. Try liquid magnesium citrate 99 cents for a bottle at Walmart. Even mixed in other drinks and drank over the course of a day will help. Prune juice will help. Good luck.
By the way, once she has had a BM, she will probably begin eating again. You can also get home health to draw urine using a catheter so she doesn't have to get out.
Being 66 is still very young to be giving up. Sounds like she has other medical issues. If so, what are those issues?