What is Dementia
Dementia is the progressive decline in cognitive function due to damage or disease in the brain beyond what might be expected from normal aging. Particularly affected areas may be ...
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Jumping to a more advanced dementia stage?
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Hi there,
I was hoping to get some advice or opinions, anything really! Is it possible for a person to jump suddenly into a more advanced stage of dementia? The woman I care for has been pretty consistent for the 3 months I have been caring for her, but this last week or two she has been pretty bad. Before she would forget names of places, or parts of stories - but with dementia, and being 89 years old, I took that to be somewhat "normal." These past couple of weeks she has been worse ...she is forgetting day to day words like coffee or neck, and babbling a lot ...Like she is super tired, and wants to talk but she babbles and most doesn't make sense (and she usually has her eyes closed). Shes frustrated with herself because she knows something is wrong, and doesn't know why she cant remember things. She went to the doctor's on Monday because we were concerned, along with her son that something could be wrong - the doctor thought she might have had a small stroke so scheduled an appt with a neurosurgeon for her (and sent her home) ...but the next day she fell, and she had also fell on the day of her doctors appt too ..so she was taken to hospital to get checked out. They ran like every test possible - Cat Scan, X-rays, blood work etc ...everything came back normal - they said she did not have a stroke, and aside from her dementia and arthritis in her knees she was healthy. I was hoping that she has just been overtired with her doctors and dentist appt's the past couple of weeks, but I'm not sure at all. The doctor along with a social worker recommended that she have 24-7 care ...so my hours just increased! I asked my mum because shes worked with people with dementia for 30+ years, she said it was possible for them to jump into a more advanced dementia stage but when she has seen that happen its usually because the person has an infection. But Mrs. C's test all came back normal so I'm not sure! Sorry for rambling, any advice/similar stories, anything really, I would appreciate. I'd like to know as much as I can learn so I can help her out as best I can. I've read books, watched documentaries, and read/looked over internet sites that my mum gave me, but talking to people who deal with dementia on a daily basis would really help me out a lot too. Thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings! Siobhan. Posted on 10/10/09, 03:10 am |
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First off, bless you for taking a job like this that is so lacking in people who really care. The fact you keep searching for answers is a wonderful thing and one you should be commended for.
I've seen more gradual changes, but have had sudden ones with my Father. He was going to the bathroom by himself a few months ago and then one day suddenly became incontinent. Tested for everything, but nothing to attribute it to. Did they test for a UTI? These are common in women especially and can really have adverse effects on dementia. Could be just a new phase that has been coming on, but not as noticable until now. My Father is amazing still at hiding changes until it is really obvious to us. Change, Dr appointments, stress, anxiety, lack of sleep, constipation, dehydration, change in exercise, all these things can change my Dad's confusion level. Is she sleeping ok? Any change in meds? Change in routine? I focus on safety and quality of life. As these changes occur, my Father's world gets smaller and smaller, but I try to make him feel safer and loved. Sometimes if I remove a few things that have become confusing for him, he responds well and we level out a bit. I also have noticed my Father can bounce up and down in ability. Several weeks, days, hours more confused, aggitated, then we might have a run where he comes back up a bit and more clear. It's a tough one to figure out, but I think you are doing the right things...watch, listen, use doctors, adjust, care and love. Bless you. 
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My husband tends to 'jump' into the next change not really gradual changes which in some ways makes it a little harder for me because it is so shocking when it happens, I'm never ready.
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My situation is much like Deborah's. We kind of float along then something BIG happens. It is scary and disturbing.
Your lady and her family are very fortunate to have such a kind and loving caregiver.
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I asked my Dad's doctor why my dad could carry on a decent conversation in the morning and later that day he didn't know who I was or where he was. He told me that a lot of older people with AD also had hardening of the arteries in the brain and that they would sort of open and close and then open again and that when the blood flow was constricted they would become more confused and disoriented. He wasn't a neurologist, but it kinda made sense to me at the time.
Bless you all, this is a terrible disease for a loved one to have.
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that does make sense because I know my husband has clogged arteries also.
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Hi there! in the course of six months, mom went from stage 4 to stage 7. She is now using diapers, cannot eat on her own, she would even forget food in her mouth. I cannot recognize mom anymore. I feel sad and helpless as I live far away from her. I wish I could be closer:(
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