She's in a vicious cycle. She's had accidents and peed on herself (while wearing a heavy duty brief), so she won't drink anything, which is causing dehydration, which causes extreme confusion, and then she pees all over the floor, toilet seat and herself. She has dementia and Parkinson's, so it's very difficult to reason with her.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
She has Alz, Vascular Dementia, Lewy Body, Sundowners and Stage 4 Kidney Disease :( She refuses to drink fluids except coffee in the am, water with pills am/pm then sweet tea at dinner and small sips maybe throughout the day but rarely. She wears depends and can't feel when she poops/pees and doesn't like going to the bathroom due to incontinence. I offer her fruit, drinks, ice cream etc and leave a glass on the table full so she can get it when she wants. She's drinking less than 16oz a day and with the stage 4 kidney disease and dehydration I am beginning to worry how long she can go like this? The nurse comes every wed and checks her over and she is dehydrated again and according to my scale she has lost 19 pounds since being in the hospital a mo ago, she eats really good so don't get that. Thoughts? Am I going to wake up and find her unresponsive from dehydration, it worries me when I am doing all I can.
jello (thickened)water and jello diluted juice?
broth with meals?
Sometimes ice in the drink ?
(Temperature preference? )
fruit and ice smoothies ? Or puréed and spoon fed?
different cups or sippy bottles? one with a big straw?
Verbal reminders every 15-20 (if applicable)“mom did you get a drink?” “Mom do you need more to drink?” “Mom do you need a sip of water?”
rotate; a bite, a drink; a bite, a drink
sit them with drink by a window? Sometimes they’ll drink without the thoughts and fears with just the calming scene of the outdoors as distraction
Offering drinks on the potty where the immediate fear of an accident is not applicable…? “You won’t have an accident mom cuz you’re on the potty!” And tone of voice helps!
Sometimes making the drink about YOU.. “mom, I need your help! The doctor wants you to drink this much water while I’m here. Will you help me so I can make the doc happy?”
making light of the accidents? “Mom I’m kinda glad you did that! That means you drank your water! Yay! I’m so proud of you for drinking your water! Do you want more water after we get fresh clothes? “
And distract from the cleanup while it’s going on.. talk about the birds outside, the last visit you had at aunt so and so’s.. how to make clean up less traumatic or just a non issue?
Hope you find the magic way for your LO!