Ah yes, the UTI "dementia." Was she willing to take pills before this? If so, let's hope she returns to reason when the UTI is cleared up. But to get the UTI cleared up, she needs to take that medicine. Sigh. Tough situation for you.
Do you know why she is refusing it? Taste? Paranoia? Battle of wills? I really hate to picture anyone forcing something down her throat, even if it is for her own good. Maybe knowing why she is refusing would give you some clues about overcoming this refusal.
Could you put it in something she likes to eat/drink? I found that grape soda was pretty useful in that regard. If this is paranoia ("you're trying to poison me"), is there someone she trusts right now who could give it to her? My husband was in the hospital once a very suspicious of everything. He wouldn't take his pills from the nurse. My sister was visiting and went to the nursing state to borrow a big thick drug book. One by one she "looked up" the pills in the book, nodded, and said, "This one is legitimate" and then he took them all from her. Whew! I'm glad that did not last long.
If your mother were in her "right mind" I'd say she has a the right to refuse meds. But since the condition the meds are for has her out of her right mind (temporarily, we hope) then I understand you do need to get the med into her. I hope you can figure out how to do that without physically forcing it.
Call the nurse help line for her insurance company, or call the doctor's office for advice. I also hope someone will be along here with personal experience to share.
Her med is an antibiotic for a UTI.....she doesn't "normally" have dementia, but I think the UTI has caused some of her stubborness and other symptoms....I KNOW that she has to have antibiotics in order to re-coop....!?! However, she will NOT take other meds....blood pressure, antidepressants, thyroid,.....
It depends on what you are treating. If the med is for infection then I do think you should try to get it down her but if it isnt for anything of great importance the no dont force it.
5 Answers
Helpful Newest
First Oldest
First
Do you know why she is refusing it? Taste? Paranoia? Battle of wills? I really hate to picture anyone forcing something down her throat, even if it is for her own good. Maybe knowing why she is refusing would give you some clues about overcoming this refusal.
Could you put it in something she likes to eat/drink? I found that grape soda was pretty useful in that regard. If this is paranoia ("you're trying to poison me"), is there someone she trusts right now who could give it to her? My husband was in the hospital once a very suspicious of everything. He wouldn't take his pills from the nurse. My sister was visiting and went to the nursing state to borrow a big thick drug book. One by one she "looked up" the pills in the book, nodded, and said, "This one is legitimate" and then he took them all from her. Whew! I'm glad that did not last long.
If your mother were in her "right mind" I'd say she has a the right to refuse meds. But since the condition the meds are for has her out of her right mind (temporarily, we hope) then I understand you do need to get the med into her. I hope you can figure out how to do that without physically forcing it.
Call the nurse help line for her insurance company, or call the doctor's office for advice. I also hope someone will be along here with personal experience to share.
ADVERTISEMENT