Concern - Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia Message Board

dorri · 03-04-2009, 04:45 PM

My sister thinks the specialist wrote in his report..dementia vs vascular arteriosclerotic dementia. It was hard to make out his writing. I'm not sure what he means by the vs? Whether this is his final report or if he still investigating I need to find out more from my sister. Which one does she have, or is it both?

Mom is still in the hospital. She's not eating or drinking as she should be, that is a concern to us because she ends up dehydrated and her sodium/pottasium levels end up out of balance. We don't know when they plan on releasing her but mom will need round the clock care when she gets out, she's too confused and forgetful to be left on her own. Mom can still go to the washroom and feed herself if she wanted, problem is, she doesn't want to, a nurse had to feed her yesterday because she wouldn't eat.

dorri · 03-04-2009, 04:52 PM

If that is what he wrote, then isn't arteriosclerotic dementia caused by strokes but her recent CT scan showed she had no new strokes...it doesn't make sense to me? nor did she in September?

Gabriel · 03-05-2009, 01:09 AM

Vascular Dementia is not always caused by strokes. It can be caused by blocked blood flow or ischemic attacks that don't show up as strokes. Dad has never had a stroke but he does have Vascular Dementia. "vs" means versus. It means that he is unsure which it is. It could be one or the other or a combination of both.

I seriously doubt that Mom just doesn't want to feed herself. Even if she can do it one day she might not be able to accomplish the task the next. If she didn't "want" to eat she wouldn't eat when somebody else fed her either. I have watched Dad not be able to pick up a glass and figure out how to drink from it. I have seen him refuse to try but I am sure it was because he didn't know how. Then I hae seen him pick it up and drink. Yes, sometimes it seems to us that they are being stubborn but they don't have the cognitive ability to intentionally decide not to do something just because they don't want to. The disease has taken control of what we consider free will.

I agree with your assessment of what Mom needs when she is released. You should be looking for the necessary placement when she is released. Neither you nor your sister will be able to handle all of her needs.

I will keep you, your sister, and your Mom in my thoughts and prayers that you find a solution to this complex problem and the answer you want.

Love, deb

dorri · 03-05-2009, 09:21 AM

When we down to visit mom, I noticed that mom and her roommate both grab for the desert on the tray first. I think they do this because it is the first thing they could see on the tray. The actual dinner has a lid on it to keep it warm. They may not be processing that there is food under that lid. I think desserts should be held behind until they can eat their meal first. Too, I notice the both of them would not lift the lid off the meal plate by themselves. To us it appeared mom had no appetite and couldn't be bothered to eat. When we would try to coax her she then would have a few bites. I don't believe that someone is around everymeal to assist her so her tray probably goes back without being touched.

My sister works and can't be there for all her meals so this is a difficult situation.

Gabriel · 03-05-2009, 10:36 AM

I am not surprised she won't life the lid. To her it is just a silver disk. The food is hidden and in her mind it is not there. As for the desserts, I am not sure if other's have had this experience but Mom and Dad both developed a major sweet tooth when dementia set in. Dad is hooked on pepperment candy and ice cream and Mom is a chocoholic. If given a choice between a sandwich and a piece of pie, both will grab the piece of pie first. When Mom was at home she used to say that you shouldn't save the best for when you were full. She would eat her Key Lime pie (her favorite) before her meal. Then have another piece after she ate.

In the AL they do use covers but they are clear plastic so you can see through them. Not only that they remove the lids for the resident when they set down the meal. They don't bring out dessert until AFTER the meal is eaten. This seems to eliminate the problem you are talking about.

From what you say I do believe that your mom needs meal assistance. This is something the hospital should provide and something you need to insist upon. They should be recording her meal intake, especially with her sodium potassium imbalance. There is no way they should take a full tray back to the kitchen without at least attempting to get her to eat something... whether you or your sister are there are not. It is their responsibility, not yours, to feed your mom while she is there. It may be that your Mom has just lost the desire/ability to eat but that doesn't mean she should not be offered food in a way that she could eat it if she would... even if that mean trying to feed her.

Keep us up to date on her progress and know we are holding on to the other end of the towels

Love, deb