Hi all, my Dad has become very depressed and withdrawn over the last month or so. He is in a Care Home where he has been reasonably settled for the last 2 years. His last review by the Older Persons Mental Health Team showed a drop in his MMSE from 23 to 11.
His refusals for help with personal care are increasing, the Home are trying their best but he almost seems to have learnt that any form of agitation on his part will send the carers away - needless to say he is getting rather dishevelled.
We requested a Dr visit, which was done. He did allow the Dr to examine him (once he got past his 3 pairs of pants, 2 vests, Pyjama top, shirt and Cardi)! He seemed OK and the blood and urine tests came back negative for any infection. He does have Prostate Cancer and is on Hormone Treatment for that. The Dr prescribed a cream for a rather intimate area, but Dad won't allow anyone to apply this!! It might be worth mentioning at this point there are no male carers at the home, I am even starting to wonder if I could book one to go there every few weeks to see if they could get him washed?
I am now waiting for the Mental Health Team to re-visit to decide if Anti-Depressants may help as the Dr did not want to prescribe anything that may react with the Donepezil, but I am understandably concerned as to how this could effect him. Does anyone have any positive or negative experiences with this type of situation, your input would be very much appreciated.
His refusals for help with personal care are increasing, the Home are trying their best but he almost seems to have learnt that any form of agitation on his part will send the carers away - needless to say he is getting rather dishevelled.
We requested a Dr visit, which was done. He did allow the Dr to examine him (once he got past his 3 pairs of pants, 2 vests, Pyjama top, shirt and Cardi)! He seemed OK and the blood and urine tests came back negative for any infection. He does have Prostate Cancer and is on Hormone Treatment for that. The Dr prescribed a cream for a rather intimate area, but Dad won't allow anyone to apply this!! It might be worth mentioning at this point there are no male carers at the home, I am even starting to wonder if I could book one to go there every few weeks to see if they could get him washed?
I am now waiting for the Mental Health Team to re-visit to decide if Anti-Depressants may help as the Dr did not want to prescribe anything that may react with the Donepezil, but I am understandably concerned as to how this could effect him. Does anyone have any positive or negative experiences with this type of situation, your input would be very much appreciated.