Watch the video blog: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbOpD9U-jNw
What do you do when you hear that your mother has been hospitalized and you know she has dementia, even though it has not been diagnosed because your father wasn’t ready to hear the truth? Now, Dad is gone, and you have a situation than can go from bad to worse in a matter of hours.
You need to find an advocate or someone who can be with her and help with the questions in order to get an accurate diagnosis and the correct treatment. Often, without an advocate, patients with early stage dementia, are seen in the ER and sent home because they are socially appropriate and the hospital has no way of knowing what their base line was prior to the most recent trip to the ER.
God forbid they give her new instructions or a new medication and send her home. With impaired memory, things can easily change again and not for the good.
The best action is to find a friend or family member than can be with her in the ER, giving correct history, so good medical decisions can be made. If you can’t find a family member, try to locate a Professional Geriatric Care Manager who might not know the entire history, but can advocate for her to be evaluated while in the hospital and follow her when she goes home, setting up systems that will help with the confusion around new medical routines and/or medications.
We all need advocates when we are sick – so when you have an aging family member in the hospital and you can’t be there it is imperative that you have someone to see that they get the treatment they need to return to their prior functioning levels, if possible.
Brian says
September 14, 2010 at 5:06 pmLinda,
I honestly believe having a health care advocate can be the difference between life and death. Hospital staff is often overworked and it is the “squeaky wheel that gets the oil.” Senior citizens who have to manage their own health care can find getting their needs filled a challenge. Sometimes medical staff is quick to dismiss a legitimate concern as just a confused old person’s ramblings. A health advocate can make sure the staff takes all concerns seriously. Keep up the great work Linda!
Brian says
September 14, 2010 at 5:06 pmLinda,
I honestly believe having a health care advocate can be the difference between life and death. Hospital staff is often overworked and it is the “squeaky wheel that gets the oil.” Senior citizens who have to manage their own health care can find getting their needs filled a challenge. Sometimes medical staff is quick to dismiss a legitimate concern as just a confused old person’s ramblings. A health advocate can make sure the staff takes all concerns seriously. Keep up the great work Linda!