I mean just a flat out no! My wife has been hiding her daily meds randomly. I just found her stash and its about 6 days' worth of Aricept and thyroid meds. I mean, its just a dead pan face off and she won't budge.
I had the same problem. My husband has vascular dementia. He got to a point where he refused his meds, held them in his mouth and would not swallow them, or spit them out. I got in touch with his doctors and found out that most of the pills could be crushed and put in applesauce, pudding, or yogurt. The problem has pretty much been solved. I am able to get nearly all of his vitamins/supplements in the gummie form which he takes well.
Does she have other meds that she IS taking or is this all she takes? I agree with Lea that dementia is horrid and it is not really a good idea to extend their lives just to suffer longer with dementia. I have started taking this tactic with mom, starting small with cutting her supplements out. I figure I only gave them to her along with me and my hubby to make her healthier. Now, with dementia, and having a lot of trouble getting her to take her pills at all, so I figured cutting it back to her prescriptions and her gummies would make my life a little bit easier.
With your wife, let her stop taking them. It's not worth the fight. It sounds like her condition is getting pretty advanced and perhaps these meds aren't likely to make much difference to her quality of life since that's already pretty bad.
It's a typical thing to do with dementia patients; to refuse meds; my mother started doing that very thing about a year ago and her PCP had the staff crush the meds and put them in applesauce or yoghurt, and she'd take them that way. Until her dementia further deteriorated and then she wouldn't. Really, my take on the whole med situation is to just let them BE. There is no quality of life with dementia, it's stripped away from everyone involved, so taking any life extending measures is cruel, in my opinion. Not to mention Aricept and thyroid meds don't fit into that category anyway!
Don't sweat the small stuff, that's my advice.
Dementia and/or dementia-like behavior is extremely difficult & frustrating to deal with, that's for CERTAIN! If you are planning to take care of your wife at home, you should learn all you can about dementia/Alzheimer's.
I suggest you read this 33 page booklet (which is a free download) which has THE best information ever about managing dementia and what to expect with an elder who's been diagnosed with it.
Understanding the Dementia Experience, by Jennifer Ghent-Fuller https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/210580
Here is a list of useful tips from her e-book I found to be excellent:
The “Dont's” · Do not reason and argue · Do not demand that they reason or problem-solve · Do not demand that they remember · Do not demand that they get their facts straight · Do not correct their ideas or scold them · Do not reorient them · Do not think that they are being uncooperative on purpose · Do not think that they really do remember, but are pretending not to · Do not use a “bossy” dictatorial attitude in care · Do not act with impatience The Do's · Enter into their frame of reality, or their 'world' · Be aware of their mood or state of mind · Use few words and simple phrases · OR use no words, just friendly gestures and simple motions · Do everything slowly · Approach from the front · Wait for a slow response · Constantly reassure them that everything is 'OK' · Keep people with dementia comfortable 'in the moment' - every moment · Maximize use of remaining abilities · Limit TV or radio programs which they may feel are frighteningly real · Maintain privacy · Provide a safe physical environment Language Needs · Use short words · Use clear and simple sentences · Speak slowly and calmly · Questions should ask for a “yes” or “no” answer · Talk about one thing at a time · Talk about concrete things; not abstract ideas · Use common phrases · Always say what you are doing · If they repeat their question, repeat your answer as you did the first time · Give them a longer time to process information · Wait patiently for a response · Be accepting of inappropriate answers and nonsense words · Speak softly, soothingly and gently
Care Needs · Recognize that receiving personal care feels intrusive · Reassure with your tone and manner · Do one thing at a time · Talk through the care “play-by- play” · Be aware of your body language and use it to communicate relaxation and reassurance · Be sincere · Use a soft, soothing touch · Be aware of the individual’s unique triggers · Be aware that a person with dementia may not accurately judge whether a situation is threatening to them · They may respond to fear, pain or anxiety by defending themselves with what we call “aggression” · If they become distressed, stop immediately and allow them time to calm down – don’t try to restart the activity right away You need to change your behaviour to adapt to the dementia because the person with the disease cannot.
Another good book is Living in the Labyrinth: A Personal Journey Through the Maze of Alzheimer's, by Diana Friel McGowin. Learn all you can about AD/dementia b/c knowledge is power!
Wishing you the best of luck with all you have on your plate.
You need to monitor when she takes medications. Is it possible to "hide" the pills in a food that she likes. If they are both taken in the morning hiding in some yogurt or applesauce might work. Pudding might work as well. And.... At some point it is not worth "arguing" about. Talk to the doctor. Be blunt. What happens if we discontinue the thyroid medication, honestly with a diagnosis of dementia what is the worst that can happen? And the Aricept may only work for a short time.After that it is a "crapshoot" as to is it working or not... So talk to the doctor about that . Is the medication available as a patch? if so you could put one on her in a location that she can not reach. (I just Googled it and it is available as a patch administered 1 X a week)
With your wife, let her stop taking them. It's not worth the fight. It sounds like her condition is getting pretty advanced and perhaps these meds aren't likely to make much difference to her quality of life since that's already pretty bad.
Good luck.
Don't sweat the small stuff, that's my advice.
Dementia and/or dementia-like behavior is extremely difficult & frustrating to deal with, that's for CERTAIN! If you are planning to take care of your wife at home, you should learn all you can about dementia/Alzheimer's.
I suggest you read this 33 page booklet (which is a free download) which has THE best information ever about managing dementia and what to expect with an elder who's been diagnosed with it.
Understanding the Dementia Experience, by Jennifer Ghent-Fuller
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/210580
Here is a list of useful tips from her e-book I found to be excellent:
The “Dont's”
· Do not reason and argue
· Do not demand that they reason or problem-solve
· Do not demand that they remember
· Do not demand that they get their facts straight
· Do not correct their ideas or scold them
· Do not reorient them
· Do not think that they are being uncooperative on purpose
· Do not think that they really do remember, but are pretending not to
· Do not use a “bossy” dictatorial attitude in care
· Do not act with impatience
The Do's
· Enter into their frame of reality, or their 'world'
· Be aware of their mood or state of mind
· Use few words and simple phrases
· OR use no words, just friendly gestures and simple motions
· Do everything slowly
· Approach from the front
· Wait for a slow response
· Constantly reassure them that everything is 'OK'
· Keep people with dementia comfortable 'in the moment' - every moment
· Maximize use of remaining abilities
· Limit TV or radio programs which they may feel are frighteningly real
· Maintain privacy
· Provide a safe physical environment
Language Needs
· Use short words
· Use clear and simple sentences
· Speak slowly and calmly
· Questions should ask for a “yes” or “no” answer
· Talk about one thing at a time
· Talk about concrete things; not abstract ideas
· Use common phrases
· Always say what you are doing
· If they repeat their question, repeat your answer as you did the first time · Give them a longer time to process information
· Wait patiently for a response
· Be accepting of inappropriate answers and nonsense words
· Speak softly, soothingly and gently
Care Needs
· Recognize that receiving personal care feels intrusive
· Reassure with your tone and manner
· Do one thing at a time
· Talk through the care “play-by- play”
· Be aware of your body language and use it to communicate relaxation and reassurance
· Be sincere
· Use a soft, soothing touch
· Be aware of the individual’s unique triggers
· Be aware that a person with dementia may not accurately judge whether a situation is threatening to them
· They may respond to fear, pain or anxiety by defending themselves with what we call “aggression”
· If they become distressed, stop immediately and allow them time to calm down – don’t try to restart the activity right away
You need to change your behaviour to adapt to the dementia because the person with the disease cannot.
Another good book is Living in the Labyrinth: A Personal Journey Through the Maze of Alzheimer's, by Diana Friel McGowin. Learn all you can about AD/dementia b/c knowledge is power!
Wishing you the best of luck with all you have on your plate.
Is it possible to "hide" the pills in a food that she likes.
If they are both taken in the morning hiding in some yogurt or applesauce might work.
Pudding might work as well.
And....
At some point it is not worth "arguing" about. Talk to the doctor. Be blunt. What happens if we discontinue the thyroid medication, honestly with a diagnosis of dementia what is the worst that can happen?
And the Aricept may only work for a short time.After that it is a "crapshoot" as to is it working or not... So talk to the doctor about that . Is the medication available as a patch? if so you could put one on her in a location that she can not reach. (I just Googled it and it is available as a patch administered 1 X a week)