She is also a Narcissist and you know them. There is nothing wrong with her. She said she went to another Dr and he told her she is fine. I don’t have power of attorney so I can’t make or suggest anything. When I reminded her of the Neurologist that said she has dementia she once again called me names and told me I’m making things up because I’m disrespectful. I guess I just have to wait until she starts forgetting major things. She has already lost $4,000 dollars and wait it’s ok one day she will find it. Any suggestions???
Gina
When that happens, you inform the hospital that she has dementia, lives alone and won't/doesn’t take care of herself.
AND that you are not going to become her caregiver. They will find a placement for her, although they will try to guilt you into volunteering to care for her. You're an elder yourself, so there is NO Way that your are going to care for an uncooperative dementia patient.
Ohboyohboyohboy...
Whose 4K did she lose, how, and is this going to make life practically difficult for anyone?
Meanwhile, get advice from the neurologist who wanted her back in his office. It's probably a matter of waiting for shoes to drop, but it can't hurt to ask.
will and I’m her #1 and
the advance directive says she doesn’t want anything but pain meds for
comfort. I have a trust account that my Father left me when she passes so I will have money to pay her bills and any Dr bills. As far as the 4K my Dad left her a good
some of money to live on that her account takes care of. She has bad mouthed me to him so much he hates me but he will get his in the end. Thank you for
caring and your advice.
gina
Decision #1 for you is: do you wish to be her caregiver?
If not, then what is your feasible plan to "re-home" her?
(FYI, if she gets mail in her name at your home, then that is her legal residence and you cannot kick her out with out (probably) going through the eviction process.)
Are you willing to help her transition to another living situation?
If there is a legal mechanism for you to help her, even when uncooperative (as in her assigning you as DPoA), are you willing to manage her affairs, even if not provide hands-on care yourself?
These are big questions and choices. Even if your Mom has always been a narcissist, she now has a diagnosis of a disease that will continue to make her a nacissist. FYI dementia makes people narcissists who were never narcissists in the past.
Maybe start by learning a little about dementia so that you can maybe have better interactions and outcomes with her now. I've learned a lot from watching Teepa Snow videos on YouTube. She provides examples and strategies that I know will help you. Also, here's some guidelines I've also found very helpful when dealing with the 4 elders that my husband and I are responsible for:
Rules for engaging our loved ones with dementia:
1) Agree, do not argue
2) Divert, do not attempt to reason
3) Distract, do not shame
4) Reassure, do not lecture
5) Reminisce, do not ask “Do you remember…?”
6) Repeat, do not say “I told you”
7) Do what they can do, don’t say “you can’t”
8) Ask, do not demand
9) Encourage, do not condescend
10) Reinforce, never force
The overall goals should be to:
1) keep them as calm and peaceful as possible
(because they are less and less able to bring themselves to this state on their own)
2) keep them physically protected in their environment and from predatory people
3) keep them nourished with healthy foods that they will accept without fighting or forcing
4) keep them in as good a health condition as is possible, that their financial resources will allow and within their desires as expressed in a Living Will (aka Advance Healthcare Directive)
5) keep them pain-free as possible and within their desires as expressed in a Living Will (aka Advance Healthcare Directive)
The caregiving arrangement needs to work for both the receiver and the giver. If it is onerous to the caregiver, then the arrangement is NOT working. Alternative types of care must be considered to avoid caregiver burnout.
I wish you much clarity, wisdom and peace in your heart as you make choices.
developed thick skin and not even her sister will deal with her. I love my mom and she is sick, was she a rotten mother? Yes one time she told me to learn how to walk better because my heels hit the ground too hard. I was having a bad day so I asked her if she had any children that lived? She had to think about that so I just walked away. I feel sorry for her because she was nasty to everyone and that’s why she has no one but me. I use to be a nurses aid and worked with quads and alot of them are pissed at the world but they know I’m going to help them that’s why I THINK I can do this. She is sleeping most of the day and up at night (sundowners). I just hope someone will take care of me when my time comes. Thank you again.
When (not if, when) she ends up in the ER, you refuse to pick her up.
I'm not suggesting that that's going to be easy, but you're going to have to refuse to take her back in order for her to get the care she needs.
What will a 'label' give Mom?
Would it change her behaviour? Will knowing she is developing a condition that strips away rational thinking make her any more rational?
Do you want to be her caregiver as things get worse?
If yes, start looking for extra help for you both.
If no, start looking for extra extra help for you both.
So 11 is really low.
My boss was asked to take some close friend some clothes in a NH she had been placed because of Dementia. As my boss was checking pockets, she found $400 in a coat pocket. So, look everywhere possible. My GFs Mother found her husbands his, wallet and pants under his mattress. They hind things in the weirdest places.
Let is go for now. You now have a diagnosis. It would be nice to know what type because of medication.
Download the booklet Understanding the Dementia Experience by Jennifer Ghent Fuller on Google. It's the best 33 pages you'll ever read on what to expect from an elder who's been diagnosed with it. Good tips in there too.
If you have POA for her, you can place her in Memory Care Assisted Living against her will if her care becomes too much to manage. I'd lose her credit card and see to it she has limited access to cash. With an MMSE score of 11, your mom is deep into her Alzheimer's/dementia now and things will only get worse from here. Further testing won't help her or you in any way, so what's the point? My mother had NPD personality traits too and didn't believe she had dementia either.....it was everyone ELSE in her memory care ALF who was stupid and nuts! She died at 95 with advanced dementia insisting that very thing and I'd change the subject when she brought it up.
Best of luck
days. Some days I think I can’t do this anymore but then she cries and asks me for help. I’m disabled myself and have problems with my legs and my only income is SSA so this is my life. Thank you so much
physical with me then maybe I will be done. I hate this being stuck in the middle of good and evil. My Dad passed away 2 years ago from end stages of dementia and I took care of him until I couldn’t.
I am not quite sure what you mean..?
Plenty of people do decide to do what they can for their LO, at home, for as long as they can. This is a valid choice. If this is your choice - the best fit for your values, then go with it.
"love thy mother and thy father"
Some people do show love by acts of service - but is not the only way to show love!
You can still set boundaries: decide what you will & won't do. You can add in extra help by way of services & extra people too. You can also re-assess the plan whenever required.
Without POA.. this may give you a starting point when considering what you will/won't do.
Medicare will pay for REHAB after a 3 day hospital stay if prescribed, but only as long as the patient is cooperative and making progress.
You may need to consult with an eldercare attorney.
You can love your parents and not end up as an abused slave to them. You deserve to have a life as much as your mom does.
I’m assuming that no one has explained to you what geriatric cognitive testing is used for.
Look up the name of the test online, read about it, then ask the doctor how her results SPECIFICALLY APPLY to her case.
How she behaves, what she says, whether she’s “mean”? NONE OF THIS has anything to do with how you should feel or react. She can call you h
She is losing whatever social appropriate behavior she EVER HAD. DON’T engage in conversation about what she does or does;’t “have”. Doing so will not help either of you.
Does ANYONE hold her POA? If not, you may have to wait for the “precipitating event”, when she either sustains an injury or wanders away or some other painful event occurs.
Once again, you are now BLAMELESS in her circumstances, but as her caregiver you must be sophisticated about what all her “stuff” now means, and how to do the best you can for her, without losing yourself in the process.
Investigate residential care sites, what her financial status is LEGALLY, and interim solutions (a “companion” for a couple hours once in a while?) that can give you a break.
There are lots of us here that understand.
And as already said, this is only for Rehab. Medicare does not pay for Long term care, Medicaid does and using only in Nursing home type facilities. Assisted Living and Memory care are not covered. Some States will pay after private paying for 2 yrs. At the point Mom is, she will need to go into Long term care. Als and MCs are limited in how much care Mom would need.
Being dissabled you can only do so much.
Are there any safety concerns now?
Using kitchen appliances? Using bank cards/cheques in wisely?
Mobility? Getting around the community?