mom's agitation is getting worse

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J J - 23 Jul 2007 06:33 GMT

I am going out of my mind, my mother keeps pulling at her blankets or
keeps trying to fold them. I have to watch her 24/7 as she tries to get
up but can't as she is too weak unless I help her up, but if she does
happen to get up she would certainly fall. she tries to walk but her
brain is not telling her how to move them, I have to guide her as to
moving her legs--- I am giving her pills to calm the agitation but they
don't last long have to keep her calm or more or less doped up ---I
can't wait for her to drift off to sleep so that I can have some time to
myself. Even with the help of careigivers and volunteers I cannot do
this alone. she is needing more care and I will have to place her in a
nursing home. which means selling her house. I have finally gone the
limit and as far a I can go with her. Is this pulling of the clothes and
blankets go with the alheizmer's? the hospice nurse said it was
terminal agitation.mom is also talking senseless now can't even think of
the worlds for blankets or things she wants. they come out making no
sense what she is trying to describe to me.
JJ

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Evelyn Ruut - 23 Jul 2007 12:47 GMT

>I am going out of my mind, my mother keeps pulling at her blankets or
> keeps trying to fold them. I have to watch her 24/7 as she tries to get
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> sense what she is trying to describe to me.
> JJ

JJ, when my mother in law got that way (unable to walk on her own) we had to
place her too. This later stage has special needs that are quite different
from the earlier ones. Some of the right gear can help.

In the nursing home they had something they called a "merrie walker" which
is a sort of a contraption that is a walker with wheels that they can't get
out of, but it has a seat they can sit down in. Some could learn to use
it, but my mother in law couldn't adapt to it.

She ended up in a wheel chair with a big foam pad that jammed between the
arms of the wheel chair, they can't push out, called a "lap buddy". This
was necessary because if she tried to get out of the wheel chair, or
actually any chair, she would fall right down, unless someone held her.

Strangely enough, she was still able to talk, but in short sentences, or
just a few words at a time, right up to the end, but everyone seems to go
through a different path with this. Some lose the ability to speak early,
some don't.

About the clothing.... they do sell jumpsuits that open from the back, that
they can't get out of, just for alzheimer patients who tend to pull their
clothing off as a sort of an agitated habit. There is also a special kind
of an apron made for them to busy themselves with.... it has buttons to
button and unbutton, and other little gadgets to fool around with to keep
their hands busy.

Here are a couple of links to help out. Maybe there will be something you
can use.

http://thealzheimerstore.com/

http://www.silverts.com/alzheimers/

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Best Regards,

Evelyn

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J J - 25 Jul 2007 07:46 GMT

Evelyn wrote: there is also a special kind of an apron made for them to
busy themselves with.... it has buttons to button and unbutton, and
other little gadgets to fool around with to keep their hands busy.

thank you I am going to see if the surgical supply store has something
for me to get for mom and also ask about those foam pads for the wheel
chair. this is a big help for me. thanks again
JJ

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Evelyn Ruut - 25 Jul 2007 12:40 GMT

> Evelyn wrote: there is also a special kind of an apron made for them to
> busy themselves with.... it has buttons to button and unbutton, and
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> chair. this is a big help for me. thanks again
> JJ

JJ, Did you check out those links I sent?

I believe it is the one from the alzheimers store that has the apron with
all the little buttons and zippers and fasteners to fiddle around with.

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Best Regards,

Evelyn

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Chuck Whealton - 29 Jul 2007 02:44 GMT

> Evelyn wrote: there is also a special kind of an apron made for them to
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> chair. this is a big help for me. thanks again
> JJ

JJ:

It almost sounds like you're still not ready to place your Mother in a
nursing home (and BTW, you're NOT giving up!). Instead of getting
your Mother into a nursing home, you're going to look for one of these
walkers that Evelyn mentioned for use at the house? Maybe I mistook
what you're saying and it's just a temporary thing until you get your
Mother somewhere?

I have a good idea of what you're going through and I know it's
horrific for you. It's like a nightmare come true. I was much more
lucky than some of the people here when my own Mother began suffering
from dementia. Hers was probably brought on by mini-strokes and there
were times when she was out of it, and then when the right medication
kicked in, there were times you would have never known she was ill. I
know I would long for those better times when she was going off.

You can't keep putting yourself through this. Think back to when your
Mother wasn't ill. Do you think she would want her child going
through what you're going through now? Heck no, she would NOT. I
would never want my Wife or children gonig through it with me and I
know you wouldn't want a loved one going through it with you.

You need to look after yourself. I know what I went through with my
own Mother and I HAD IT RELATIVELY GOOD. I can't imagine what you're
going through.

After you look into that specialized walker and/or wheel chair, PLEASE
look into getting yourself a break.

I certainly wish you the best...

Charles R. Whealton
Charles Whealton @ pleasedontspam.com

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