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Re: [wernicke_korsakoff_syndrome] Dimentia
Hi Danny and everyone: I've been reading everyone's posts but unfortunately have been just so busy I haven't taken the time to respond. To answer your question, I think the environment has a lot to do with the degree of dementia. When my mom was first diagnosed 1 1/2 years ago, (has it really been that long?) she was discharged from the hospital to a nursing home because she needed physical therapy as she could not walk. Because she was wandering at the time they placed her on a locked dementia unit. These patients had various causes of their dementia but most were in the later stages of Alzheimers. My mom was clearly higher functioning than these poor souls and after we got her up and around again, the social workers agreed that she should be somewhere else and that being there was bringing her down. It was confusing to her because she couldn't make sense due to her short term memory loss as to what was going on around her and then had to confabulate to explain it. Which could mean that she worked there or she was one of them. So sometimes she worked there and sometimes she exhibited some ot their behavior.
So now she is in an assisted living facility where she has made a few friends. It is like having an apartment where someone checks in on you. They give her her meds which she wouldn't remember, she goes to a dining room and has meals with her friends. She can take care of herself when she wants to or they will help her with showers, reminders, etc.. The problem is getting her to want to. She sees no reason to change her clothes (or she doesn't remember that she hasn't) or cut her nails, etc. Plus my mom thinks she is perfectly ok so all these aides and me are an intrusion on her privacy when we encourage her to wash, dress, etc. or ask her if she wants to participate in an activity.
Last month an interesting thing happened though. Some relatives were visiting and we had planned a trip for dinner at another relatives house. I usually can't get her to come to my house for dinner but my mom agreed to attend this as they are from out of state and getting on in years. It seems she was really trying to pull herself together for this visit. Believe it or not, she made a list! I couldn't believe it. On the list was iced tea and other food items, A CURLING IRON!!!!, etc. It was amazing. It was like she was a different person. My mom had not made a list since this all started. If you asked her if she wanted to go shopping or if she needed anything she'd shake her head. She hadn't even brushed her hair without direction and now she wanted a CURLING IRON!? I was so happy. Even the aides and her friends said she was like a different person. Her mood was up. To me it really seemed as though she had something to look forward to and because she hadn't seen these folks in some time she was trying to pull herself together for the visit. Unfortunately, she also got a little hyper and fell coming out of the shower, (an aide was with her but couldn't catch her) and she broke her leg. But it seemed to me the attention of going to the ER, Cat Scans, doctors, etc and having me around 24/7 still brought up her mood. She was cracking jokes, (usually at my expense), requesting things, adding to the list, etc. Even though she was grumpy from the pain she was with it. We had to cancel the dinner but our relatives were able to come to her apartment for a short visit which she enjoyed. So in sum, I think the experience of trying to appear "normal" for these relatives brought her up both emotionally and mentally. Does it improve her memory or condition, not really.
So now, we are back to the usual. She hasn't used the CURLING IRON!, doesn't want to go anywhere, etc. I feel extremely guilty and torn because if I could spend more time "entertaining" her she might improve but I just don't have it. Blah, blah, blah. Luckily my brother and his children are coming next week so I'm hoping that will give her something to look forward to.
Sorry so long, yes I think the environment really does make a difference, along with the meds. My mom is taking Exelon (which is like Aricept) and namenda and that also seems to have really leveled things out for her. She is also on Seroquel, initially for "sundowning" and hallucinations but the doctor is weaning her off of this as she has improved so we'll see how she does. It's alot of work. Good Luck and Take Care, Kathy
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