My mother is 94 and up until 2 months ago, she was perfectly fine. Completely independent. She managed her entire life with very little assistance from me. She was hospitalized for 10 days and rehab for another 10 due to a bowel obstruction. Mother came home a different person. She can't remember how to do any little thing, totally confused about days, has to use a walker and wears diapers. She fixates on things and worries way more than she used to do. I do pretty much everything for her now. She will ask me 100 times how to do the same thing. Mother got upset two days ago and asked me what happened to her? I honestly don't know. The hospital changed her medicines and she had to be put to sleep for a procedure. Does anyone have any experience like this?
Anesthesia can wreck havoc on a persons brain, and if the person is older it is worse.
There is a condition called Hospital delirium and from what I have read it can take weeks or months to recover.
I would contact her doctor and make them aware of this.
Go on line and read some of the ways to help her recover from this if it is hospital delirium.
Also...check for UTI there are over the counter test strips that can give you an idea.
She descended (further) into dementia. I say "further" because if she could totally control her environment in her condo, she could mask it to many people. I, the local sib, saw her decline (and finally my long-distance brothers did, also).
Honestly, she had only 1 or 2 lucid days after that hospitalization, and she died less than 6 months later in the SNF.
Meanwhile, help her keep her tasks and routines clear-cut, deliberate and with plenty of rest breaks in between. Remind her that she is still in the convalescent phase and must cut herself plenty of slack.
Examples of how to help: a display clock showing time with clear day/night markings, day and date. A timetable for each day, and a calendar for the week. If she's struggling with the phone then consider getting one where the speed dial numbers have the person's photo next to them - but go carefully before you replace any devices or appliances that she's very familiar with, and make sure the new one really is easier *for her* to use.
Does she have support with continence care, personal care, and medications? - besides you, I mean?
Above all, lay on the reassurance with a trowel. She's been through an ordeal, God willing this will get better, and don't panic :)
[Did the procedure sort out the bowel obstruction? No residual underlying causes to worry about?]
Give your mom a couple of months to reorient herself before you draw any conclusions about her permanently.
Good luck to you
Sadly, delirium seems to fast forward the decline that was inching forward prior to the hospital stay.
She has lived a nice long life and this can be a wake up call to get all essential paperwork and bucket lists taken care of.
Get lots of help. Let us know how she is doing.
When I came out, I had trouble getting ideas from my brain to my tongue. I literally couldn’t find the correct words. This particular issue lasted 2 months. It was most upsetting. Apparently, my brain was too stressed to work correctly.
I could type just fine. But, verbally, I was way off. It was so very frustrating.
I can very much understand what an operation and hospital/rehab stays might do to cause delirium in someone who is 94.
I am sorry that this is happening to your mother.
This is, unfortunately, very very common.
Rather than dementia, this is called *delerium*.
People over 65 are more at risk. Top triggers are
1. infections (UTI, chest infection/pneumonia, Covid)
2. Anaesthetics
3. ICU stay
4. Hospital stay
5. Medication withdrawal
6. Dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, low sodium
All these cause stress on the body & brain.
It can last days, weeks, fluctuate for weeks, or even be the new level of functioning.
Be patient. Be hopeful. But also be practical & arrange more care for Mother, more hands to help you so you don't burn out.