What questions should I ask my Mom’s psychiatrist?
My mother has been in her Memory Care for about 12 weeks. She has moderate dementia.
Her thyroid numbers are fine. She is already on an antidepressant and an anti anxiety Rx.
Before she went into the MC, she was absolutely terrified of the world around her. She was afraid of being alone, afraid of windows (convinced that someone was looking in at her), afraid of running out of money, afraid of trees, and on and on. At the MC, they have adjusted her prescriptions, because the terror continues, and because her OCD has gotten out of hand.
Mom will not participate in activities, and only leaves her room for meals. The dining room is twenty paces away. Then, it is right back to her room, shades drawn, and blankets pulled up to her nose.
The staff is kind, compassionate and caring. They can’t force her to join in with activities, or just to be out with other people. She refuses to have the sweet activities director come in and do individual activities with her.
Mom refuses to have the tv on any longer. Books, movies, music, listening to books being read, looking through old pictures...all get a firm “NO!” I understand that some of those things could be cognitively too difficult for her. Name a past-time of ANY kind, and the answer is the same. Just NO.
This is a beautiful new MC, with a low staff to resident ratio. I am FREQUENTLY in touch with various members of her care team. They are concerned about Mom’s terror and depression and anxiety, and have have referred her to their psychiatrist. That doc will see her, then give me a call.
What kinds of questions should I ask this doc? Anything I should be wary of? I don’t want her to be a zombie, but, I don’t want her to have to suffer this terror and anxiety, either.
Thank you.
6 Answers
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Still, she was peaceful, attended Church weekly, and was basically cooperative.
You do the very best you can, and sometime that means settling for 50% even if you’d love her to have more.
As to questions, I had requested that she be tried on small doses, and the psychiatrist agreed almost before I was able to ask.
You seem very attuned to your mom’s needs. Hope your experience turns out as well as ours has.
My twin sister is coming in next week to see Mom before Mom can’t recognize her any longer. That brings up a whole level of other feelings, since I have been doing ALL of the caretaking. But, that’s another story. My hope is that the psychiatrist can get something on board before then. Just to take the edge off.
Allow the doctor to help your mom improve the quality of her life. Take Barbs advice and rely on his knowledge of what's best to try here. Put aside your worries and give something new a try.....bc what's happening now isn't working.
Good luck!
I think a lot of us 1950-60s "kids" equate psych meds with zombie-hood. I think of it as the Jack Nicholson effect (a reference to One Flew Over The Cookoo's Nest).
Psychopharmocology has come a long way since those days. After a dx of vascular dementia, mom's new geriatric psychiatrist switched her from Xanax to regular small doses of klonopin. This did not sedate her, but the constancy of the dose meant that mom needed a lower dose because she wasn't taking the med AFTER the anxiety kicked in. Getting ahead of the symptoms was key.
After she had a major stroke, mom's anxiety skyrocketed. A cocktail of Remeron, Lexapro a nd a pediatric dose of klonopin kept mom calm and happy. No zombie effect!
Work with the psychiatrist and understand that psychopharmocology is an art and often requires trial and error. Much good luck!,