Hello! My mom is 89 and has always been pretty good physically and mentally. She has some memory problems at times but nothing that excessive or worrisome.
For two days now, she's been confused. This morning, she was asleep in the living room chair. I woke up her up (it was 8 AM) and she was really out of it, which I guess could be normal if she was in deep sleep. She asked me who the kid was that was there earlier (there was no kid) and said he was watching TV but must have left for school.
She was convinced it was 5 PM and not 8 AM when we left to get breakfast. At 11 AM, she was sound asleep in her chair, so she woke up and of course was confused. She said she was going to get up and get dressed but earlier she said she had already had her shower. Two hours later, she's in the shower.
Now, she said to me "How's the family?" I said, "what family" and she said "my brothers and sisters". I told her they had all passed and she seemed surprised. I asked her why she was asking about family members that she knows are deceased and she said "I know they are dead. I just say things just to get you riled up." Then she said, she never asked about her dead relatives.
She refuses to go to the doctor and I'm trying to get her to take a UTI test but she won't.
I have no idea what is going on with her. I said I'd call the ambulance but she says she will refuse to let them in as her mind is sound and all my questions I'm asking her are making her "lose her mind."
What is going on here?
If you're able to get her to a naturopath, you're able to get her to a neurologist as well.
If dementia is going on with mom, know that it doesn't present itself exactly the same 24/7. Dementia has highs and lows, like anything else, good times and bad. An elder doesn't act unhinged constantly, or hallucinate all the time...just sometimes. Get mom tested so you know what you're dealing with. A full medical evaluation consists of body and mind, at 89.
Good luck to you.
CBC w/auto differential
Comprehensive metabolic panel
Magnesium
Urinalysis with reflex to microscopic and reflex to culture
There is no OTC treatment for UTIs. Cranberry pills don't work.
You can buy test strips for urine to test for a UTI
Untreated glaucoma will lead to blindness, and so will cataracts
I would tell mother you're calling 911 and if she refuses to go with the EMTs, you're placing her in a nursing home. Tell the EMTs (privately) you think she may have had a stroke due to sudden outrageous behavior and seeing dead relatives.
Good luck to you.
THERE IS NO OTC ANTIBIOTIC for a UTI. She's being childish by not simply peeing in a cup at an Urgent Care! They can RX her antibiotics and get her started. UTIs in the elderly are serious. Talking all her gibberish/hallucinations could also be a possible mini stroke.
Tell her if she won't go, you are calling 911. Her hallucinations (talking about the young boy) is upsetting, and yes, she has you all riled up!! Her attitude sucks.
Put your foot down. Ask her if she wants to move into a HOME next, you aren't playing games.
It could be a UTI or dementia.
It could also be other things , pneumonia , dehydration , sepsis , a vitamin deficiency.
Alot of things can cause confusion in the elderly .
That being said on again off again confusion with hallucinations ( seeing people who aren’t there) is the hallmark for Lewy Body dementia .
When she claimed she only asked you about dead relatives to rile you up , that was her way of covering up what is going on. She’s having memory problems and confabulation .
Also, she has lost a good amount of eyesight as she has cataracts and glaucoma and refuses to do anything about it.
I'm going to the drugstore to get some OTC UTI treatment and hopefully she will take that and some B-12. I gave her a Drip Drop in water the past 3 days as I think she's dehydrated as she loves coffee.