Need advice!! Cognitive and balance issues
Hi. My FIL is 85 and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 5 years ago. His progression had been pretty slow but seems to have sped up recently. He lives in a memory care facility. He is having a lot of trouble falling. He’s actually currently in the hospital because of a bad fall he took a few days ago. They discovered he was pretty dehydrated so they’ve been just watching him and giving him fluids. He’s pretty confused most of the time and talks to himself a lot. But he does seem to still have a lot of abilities as well. He gets dressed and joins the other residents for his meals three times a day. I guess I wondered, as this seems to be progressing and now he seems to be having more cognitive issues as well as physical balance issues, what happens next? He also has not been to see the specialist he originally saw when he was diagnosed. He went back one time but my mother-in-law has not taken him back again. Would a visit to the Alzheimer’s doctor help with symptom progression? We just aren’t really sure what needs to be done to help. Any suggestions or advice are so welcomed!!
I'm sorry I'm just seeing his. How is your father-in-law? How has the disease progressed? What have y'all done for him? It's so hard. There are medications that can help symptoms and help with other issues that make dementia worse. Dehydration can be a big factor, also vitamin deficiencies. I hope you are getting support from family and friends and medical providers. Are they looking after him well at the memory care facility? Please update us on how you and your family are doing. Blessings, Kathy M team member.
I came across your post about your journey with your father in law. I am hoping that your father in law was able to recover without complication from his fall and suspected dehydration. Both of my parents had the Alzheimer's diagnosis and watching their fluid intake was so important. My mom would not drink water or honestly more like didn't remember to drink water. The staff where she resided were pretty good at reminding her. Dehydration in her made her cognition worse. I have attached two articles that talks about the importance of hydration and some tips to encourage hydration. https://alzheimersdisease.net/complications. https://www.dispatchhealth.com/blog/preventing-dehydration-in-seniors-with-alzheimers/. I also am hoping that you were able to get your father in law back to the neurologist who diagnosed his Alzheimer's disease. It is absolutely so important to report any and all symptoms to them. There is potentially neurological imagining, cognitive testing, and medications that they may be able to offer as part of the treatment plan.
Balance unfortunately can also be comely effected in Alzheimer's disease. I have attached an article that may be of help to you. https://www.dementiacarecentral.com/caregiverinfo/balance-issues. Also, if you have any other concerns or questions that have arisen since your last post. Please just let us know and myself and/or one of my team mates will be happy to try to help in any way we can. Please know we here at AlzheimersDisease.net are thinking about you. Just Keep Swimming...Lynn Marie, "AlzheimersDisease.net Team Member"
