Caring
for Caregivers Newsletter
Published by Janice Wallace, The Eldercare Coach
Ask
Janice!
My mother suffers from vascular dementia and her mental health
has recently declined. As a result, she is now refusing to take her medication.
What suggestions do you have to handle this problem? - Ellen
"Vascular dementia is a common form of cognitive impairment in older
persons that is usually due to a series of small strokes which affect
some mental functions. Symptoms include confusion, problems with recent
memory, impaired reasoning, wandering or getting lost in familiar places,
loss of bladder or bowel control (incontinence), emotional problems such
as laughing or crying inappropriately, difficulty following instructions,
and problems handling money. The damage is typically so slight that the
change is noticeable only as a series of small steps. However, over time,
as more small blood vessels in the brain are blocked, there is noticeable
gradual mental decline."
Dear Ellen,
Refusing medication may be your mother’s attempt at exercising control
over the environment. It may be a reaction to interacting with her caregiver.
Is her caregiver experiencing problems with other types of care like toileting
or bathing? Your mother may no longer understand that her medication is
necessary.
My suggestions are:
1. Check with her doctor to find out about alternative forms for medication.
Are any of the meds available in liquid form? Can the meds be crushed?
This gives the caregiver different ways of offering the medications and
the option to mix the medications in a spoonful of favorite food such
as pudding or yogurt. Be sure to ask about possible interactions of medication
with food to make sure that the potency of her meds is not being affected
by what they are mixed with.
2. Her caregiver should be calm and matter of fact when offering medication.
Your mom may be more rebellious if she can sense the tension in her caregiver.
If the situation becomes difficult, back off. Try again in a few minutes
after distracting your mom from her upset.