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Suggest Treatment For Dementia And Severe Confusion
Posted on
Mon, 13 Jul 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Mon, 13 Jul 2015
Answered on
Mon, 10 Aug 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : My 87 year old mother, otherwise very healthy, has Dementia. She ha had it approx. 2 years. Before I understood about Dementia she would become t times, very aggressive towards me, verbally and physically .
No with testing and taking Namenda I see her calmer but more confused on even what country she is in when e fly to California or N XXXXXXX to visit family.
Her doctor tried Aricept but she could not tolerate it( very dizzy).so after an MRI, and Ultrasound her neurologist is trying 7 mg. of Namenda XR. She is very confused and nearly everything in her daily life.
She lives with me and my husband, however; it has taken a toll on all of us. I wish to keep her home with use but fel now is the time for in-home professional care. Long story, sorry, but we love her and don't know what the future holds for her and what we may expect.
With a heartfelt Thank You,
Jeannie W.
No with testing and taking Namenda I see her calmer but more confused on even what country she is in when e fly to California or N XXXXXXX to visit family.
Her doctor tried Aricept but she could not tolerate it( very dizzy).so after an MRI, and Ultrasound her neurologist is trying 7 mg. of Namenda XR. She is very confused and nearly everything in her daily life.
She lives with me and my husband, however; it has taken a toll on all of us. I wish to keep her home with use but fel now is the time for in-home professional care. Long story, sorry, but we love her and don't know what the future holds for her and what we may expect.
With a heartfelt Thank You,
Jeannie W.
Brief Answer:
need to asses the dependence and functional impairment
Detailed Answer:
Welcome to HCM
i can understand the stress that you all must be through, the strain on caregiver in case of dementia patients is enormous.
As i can figure out and understand form the description here
your mother has been diagnosed with dementia, since 2 years
currently on 7mg Namenda
having behavioural issues and marked functional difficulties in day to day functional domains.
Well, as in any case of dementia the line of treatment is always to early detect the changes and try to arrest the underlying dementing process in the brain. The drugs mainly slows down the disease process than to completely arrest it. Therefore, clinically and functionally there persist a slow but progressive deterioration in the patient.
The deciding factor that directs intervention making decision is the level of impairment in the functioning. It can be assessed using various rating neurological rating scales. These scales asses scores of the functioning in regards to various functional domains. Functional Activities Questionnaire(FAQ), Activities of Daily Living (ADL), etc. A detailed work up on these scales, and a detailed neurological and medical examination will decide the need for her of inpatient/institutional care.
An assistance at eating, bathing, Toiletting, dressing, and grooming indicates marked dependency. In such cases an inpatient and institutionalising the patient is advisable.
My suggestions
discuss the above options with your treating (neurologist) consultant as he with the help of proper assessment tools can decide the level of dependency and advice further course of action as needed.
an opinion of a psychiatrist is advisable to handle the stress on the family as well as about the patient related intervention.
Welcome for further suggestions
Regards,
need to asses the dependence and functional impairment
Detailed Answer:
Welcome to HCM
i can understand the stress that you all must be through, the strain on caregiver in case of dementia patients is enormous.
As i can figure out and understand form the description here
your mother has been diagnosed with dementia, since 2 years
currently on 7mg Namenda
having behavioural issues and marked functional difficulties in day to day functional domains.
Well, as in any case of dementia the line of treatment is always to early detect the changes and try to arrest the underlying dementing process in the brain. The drugs mainly slows down the disease process than to completely arrest it. Therefore, clinically and functionally there persist a slow but progressive deterioration in the patient.
The deciding factor that directs intervention making decision is the level of impairment in the functioning. It can be assessed using various rating neurological rating scales. These scales asses scores of the functioning in regards to various functional domains. Functional Activities Questionnaire(FAQ), Activities of Daily Living (ADL), etc. A detailed work up on these scales, and a detailed neurological and medical examination will decide the need for her of inpatient/institutional care.
An assistance at eating, bathing, Toiletting, dressing, and grooming indicates marked dependency. In such cases an inpatient and institutionalising the patient is advisable.
My suggestions
discuss the above options with your treating (neurologist) consultant as he with the help of proper assessment tools can decide the level of dependency and advice further course of action as needed.
an opinion of a psychiatrist is advisable to handle the stress on the family as well as about the patient related intervention.
Welcome for further suggestions
Regards,
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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