The last year and a half was very stressful. The neurologist and psychiatrist kept saying my mom has MCI with high anxiety. Meanwhile many drug trials later nothing was working to fix her high anxiety and mom became fearful of being alone. We had caregivers coming during the day, paid for my Medicaid but at night she was alone. Constant calls, all day long even with caretakers. Nothing was working. After my mother called 911 several times it was decided to transport her from ER to a MC facility we had already picked out in advance just in case. Three months in, my mother's anxiety is much better but much more confused, memory worse, begging to go home daily and try again. She is now on Clonazapam and Seroquel. We are preparing to sell her house and it’s tearing me apart. Once house is sold there is never going back. I know it’s right but I want her doctors or a health care professional to confirm she belongs in MC and it’s not just MCI with high anxiety (that seems better but more confused) Her short term memory is very bad.
Who do I turn to for validation before making this huge decision for my mother. All her Medicaid benefits she had at home will be gone once her house is sold until of course she is spent down. What if my mother is better than we think and she will run out of money too soon and end up in a nursing home sooner than necessary. She is only 77 years old?
Need an advocate or advice ASAP
I've seen guardianship notes prepared by such a professional. She noted the results from a 1.5 hr neuro assessment & then her interpretation of how the results would impact day to day living. I was really impressed.
The test covered long & short term memory, numeracy, literacy, comprehension. The cognitive impairments found (in that case) translated into lack of function across memory, processing but mostly judgement. It gave the family a more informed picture to base their decisions on.
A quick Google of my local mental health hospital listed Doctors (? Psychiatrists I guess) who specialise in
Aged Psychiatry, Anxiety Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Dementia, Depression.
I think in your shoes, it would help me if I had a report like that. But I also think, trust your gut.
In my most recent caregiving experience, we used a Geriatric Behavioral Psychiatric practice that was recommended by her facility. They were WONDERFUL and continue to be, after 3 years of her MC care. They consolidated and reviewed the medications she was taking when she entered, and still continue to update periodically.
I was always part of the care plan with them (Covid interruptions included) and they helped me through the “no turning back” pieces of providing the best care I could for her.
Hope the assessment you arrange provides the same confidence for you that we received from ours.
You know the resources you have; the same ones that brought you to where you are now. 1)yourself and what you saw, what you see now 2)the MD 3) the support of the facility where Mom is.
I wish you the best of luck. But to be crystal clear, before you disrupt your Mother please just consider putting off the home sale until you are more comfortable. Do know, if Mom is receiving any governmental assistance the home will change her assets and likely preclude her from getting this.
I think Mom is better off where she is. She will eventually except where she is as the desease progresses.