My grandpa is in MC. He’s been there since Feb, and his vascular dementia has just gone from bad to worse. They keep changing his meds because of how anxious and mission driven he is at night. Since the new medication change he’s been REALLY out of it, you can’t wake him even to eat or drink. They tell me he’s awake for most of the night though.
Tonight they told me they are worried he’s becoming dehydrated and were thinking of sending him out to the hospital for fluids so his meds didn’t become toxic to him. They are going to hold meds for 24 hours and the staff were able to get food/fluids in so they aren’t sending him out tonight.
Im worried the dose is too high, but I don’t know how to advocate for him. When I mentioned this possibility they tell me he just falls constantly because he won’t stop wandering. Which I believe is true.
Have any of you been in a similar situation? What would you do?
This is an MC in AL not a SNF
Dehydration is another problem for elders at best of times. Almost every elder who comes into ER comes in dehydrated. We lose our drive to take in fluids. Esp in warm climes this can be a terrible problem.
I wish everyone luck with this one. Even when the right meds, the right doses are found they work often for only a while and then no longer work. I wish I could be of more help. As a nurse I know this dilemma and it's a tough one.