She really would have preferred to stay at home, but repeated trips to the ER after falls finally convinced her. But she hasn’t left her room since she moved in. Says the planned activities aren’t interesting. Hasn’t gone to the dining room, has all her meals delivered to her room. She sleeps most of the time. She had mobility issues before the move (pain walking, used cane, walker or scooter) but it is getting much worse and now she can barely make it to the door and she is in a studio. She has med manager telling her she needs to walk, as well as her doctor and family. It’s like she has given up and is just waiting to die. She has mild dementia with hallucinations and delusions. Not bad enough for memory care, but we are now trying to figure out if she should be in AL. Cost of care would basically double. So far I have been paying majority of her expenses until her house sells, (closing is the end of this month) at which point I will be reimbursed. But with the added cost of AL, her assets will only last her about 2 1/2 years. And she makes too much for Medicaid. Not really sure what you can tell me. Just concerned about her lack of will to survive. And she is on antidepressants.
Has the IL facility curtailed a lot of the activities?
It is very possible that she does have some depression.
Since she is in IL can she come and go? If so would it be possible to set up a "date" with her take her to lunch once a week. It would give he something to look forward to.
I can see where it might be difficult to meet people and get to know them when everyone is wearing a mask and you can not "read" facial expressions.
I would next time she has a doctor's appointment mention the isolation and see if she can be reevaluated for the depression, it is possible that a medication adjustment is necessary. With the diagnosis of "mild" dementia it is possible that with the move, the isolation that her dementia has caused a decline.
If the current med regimin isn't working, then another needs to be tried.
It wasn’t until THIS month, that she came out of her room for something besides meals. She has also quit sleeping all day. She is now out in the activity room doing puzzles, and bingo, for goodness’s sake. Both are activities that she would NEVER have done in her previous life!
What seems to have made a difference, is attention by a geriatric psychiatrist. They switched her anxiety and depression meds. It’s been a miracle!
Best wishes to you.