My 98 year old grandmother has been in a care home for 2 years following multiple falls/uti's and a diagnosis of unspecified dementia. Whilst care received is good, I am confused about how she actually is.
She is bed bound, incontinent, unable to dress herself, unable to recognise some close family members and at times presents as agitated/on the verge of aggressive. When the agitation occurs the carers administer diazepam to calm her down. Medicated or not, she wants to sleep most of the time and eats minimal amounts. She has to be spoon fed soft foods - which she eats tiny morsels of - but will eat sweet foods such as rice pudding. She has lost a significant amount of weight, to the point where she looks emaciated (weighing just over 6 stone) and as a result is given fortified cream shots. She can still speak - can be overly vocal at times, however, often is not intelligible.
Based on others' experience, I am wondering if it is possible my grandmother is experiencing the later stages of dementia? I appreciate everyone progresses differently, but having not experienced this cruel illness before, I am trying to gain a little clarity and understanding of where she is/what to expect.
Thank you!
She is bed bound, incontinent, unable to dress herself, unable to recognise some close family members and at times presents as agitated/on the verge of aggressive. When the agitation occurs the carers administer diazepam to calm her down. Medicated or not, she wants to sleep most of the time and eats minimal amounts. She has to be spoon fed soft foods - which she eats tiny morsels of - but will eat sweet foods such as rice pudding. She has lost a significant amount of weight, to the point where she looks emaciated (weighing just over 6 stone) and as a result is given fortified cream shots. She can still speak - can be overly vocal at times, however, often is not intelligible.
Based on others' experience, I am wondering if it is possible my grandmother is experiencing the later stages of dementia? I appreciate everyone progresses differently, but having not experienced this cruel illness before, I am trying to gain a little clarity and understanding of where she is/what to expect.
Thank you!
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