Marmotta: none of the medications my mother's doctor tried, helped her anxiety, I am sorry to say. I think that this is because the anxiety was not stemming from something like an anxiety disorder or depression, but from the dementia. In the end, the move to the care home, and relieving my mother of the responsibilities of looking after herself, seem to be what relieved the generalized anxiety. Not helpful, I know.
Having said that, it is worth trying some different medications, as long as the prescribing doctor knows about the dementia and knows what drugs are contraindicated for what types of dementia. You don't want to make things worse.
It is also worth assessing the daily living situation of the PWD (person with dementia) to see if there are any adjustments that can be made, to relieve any of the situations that cause the PWD anxiety. For example, the subject of money, bills, and finances makes my mother distressed beyond belief, so I make sure never to mention this to her, and have all her financial statements sent to me (I handle all of this anyway). When she brings up the topic of money, I am always quick to reassure her: "Medicare pays your bills here," "you have plenty of money," et cetera.
Mot, I am sorry to hear that you are having trouble getting a geriatric assessment for your mother. There is NO WAY I would take her to the ER for that process, unless it's for a pre-arranged admission to a Geriatric Psychiatry/Senior Behavioral Health unit. There has to be a neurologist or geriatric specialist somewhere in your area, who would fit the bill. I wonder if you could try asking the medical director/nursing staff at area nursing homes. My mother's fantastic neurologist (who treats only dementia patients in hospitals and nursing homes), is the staff neurologist who comes to my mother's nursing home.
And, yes, flabbergasted is a word, and a good choice here.
I'm so sorry.
Having said that, it is worth trying some different medications, as long as the prescribing doctor knows about the dementia and knows what drugs are contraindicated for what types of dementia. You don't want to make things worse.
It is also worth assessing the daily living situation of the PWD (person with dementia) to see if there are any adjustments that can be made, to relieve any of the situations that cause the PWD anxiety. For example, the subject of money, bills, and finances makes my mother distressed beyond belief, so I make sure never to mention this to her, and have all her financial statements sent to me (I handle all of this anyway). When she brings up the topic of money, I am always quick to reassure her: "Medicare pays your bills here," "you have plenty of money," et cetera.
Mot, I am sorry to hear that you are having trouble getting a geriatric assessment for your mother. There is NO WAY I would take her to the ER for that process, unless it's for a pre-arranged admission to a Geriatric Psychiatry/Senior Behavioral Health unit. There has to be a neurologist or geriatric specialist somewhere in your area, who would fit the bill. I wonder if you could try asking the medical director/nursing staff at area nursing homes. My mother's fantastic neurologist (who treats only dementia patients in hospitals and nursing homes), is the staff neurologist who comes to my mother's nursing home.
And, yes, flabbergasted is a word, and a good choice here.
I'm so sorry.
