Transportation of late stage PD mom with Dementia? - Parkinson's Disease Message Board

nancydiane · 03-05-2006, 03:02 PM

Hello,

My 75-year-old mom's dementia has increased significantly in the last month, and my 80-year-old dad, who cares for her, simply cannot continue to do so. She is lucid only about 15% of the time. She seems to be in another world or sleeping the other 85% of the time. Dad has trouble getting her to eat and take her meds. He cannot leave her alone. It is clear that he must admit her to a care facility.

However, they are currently at their winter location in Arizona (they flew there last October). Their permanent home is in Washington State, which is also where my sisters & I live. Dad wants to bring Mom home, and put her in a care facility here rather than in Arizona, but we do not think Mom can go on a commercial flight, and a car trip is out of the question. Can anyone suggest a means for transporting my mom back home?

Also, because of my mom's recent, rapid decline and increasing dimentia (she is frequently hallucinating, does not recognize close family members, etc.), my family fears that the end is very near for her. I have been scouring the internet, & this message board trying to determine if this truly indicates the end, until my eyes hurt too much to continue my research. It's difficult to know what to do -- whether to drop everything & fly to Arizona to be with her now, or whether there is more time. I only wish she and my dad were here now.

Thank you for any information you can provide.

Nancy

nancydiane · 03-07-2006, 07:40 PM

Hi PDiddy,

Thank you so much for your suggestion.

I suggested this idea to my Dad. We thought that maybe my mom's doctor in Arizona could prescribe something that she could take prior to the flight, and perhaps I might fly to Arizona & then fly back to Washington with them, so then he'd have some assistance.

Dad's only concern is that Mom is often uncooperative in getting ready on time for anything, so he's afraid of their possibly missing the flight. I have a friend that works for an airline, so will ask her if she has a suggestion for that. I would think that having an ambulance transport her to the airport might help at least a little with that.

I also did a great deal of research the other day, & feel a bit better about my mom's condition now. While it's clear that the PD is progressing, from what I read, there's still (hopefully) quite a bit of time left for her. My dad phoned the doctor & discovered that my mom's constipation, which she frequently experiences (& dad has had to take her for the hospital for that several times), apparently prevents absorption of her PD medicine. Sure enough, after she become "un-bound," the dementia diminishes, and she is "herself" again.

I appreciate your help. It's very frustrating to not know what's going on, to need help, and not know where to get it! (Thank goodness for the internet!)

God bless you.

Nancy

arva · 04-11-2006, 10:41 AM

Charter a medical transport plane. It may cost about $5,000 -10000. But worth it. also Angel flight may be able to help.

As for her increasing dementia, check for UTI or other infection. Dementia does not mean imminent death, just dificulty gettig her to do basic thing. With a better emd protocol and ruling out infectin and also being home will help. Sometimes change in environment can cause mental problems.

good luck.

WannaBeFreeToRoam · 04-12-2006, 02:22 PM

Hi Nancy,

I agree with PDiddy. You fly to them. Then you help your dad get your mom ready - way ahead of time and get to the airport, way ahead of time. Also, get the nurse or dr. to give her the knock out medicine before leaving. You just need to talk to the airline and the drs. office. The only thing that might happen is that you might need to change her adult diaper. Other than that she should be ok.

Just do all you research ahead of time and have everything set up way in advance.

The longer you leave both of your parents in AZ, the more it is hurting your father! So, please make the move as soon as possible, for your dads sake!

Good Luck.

Wannabe