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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Dimentia in an aging parent
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
Dimentia in an aging parent
by Michael Fanshel, Mar 03, 2000 12:00AM
My father is 78 years old and has just been rreleased to home care after 8 1/2 weeks in the hospital for various ailments. He initially fell in the shower and after being admitted to the hospital he spiraled downward refusing to eat or drink much, assigned to bed rest, and then becoming too weak and dizzy to walk. His lithium levels for his bi-polar disorder became toxic and he became more irrational and impulsive. He has received a pacemaker and is on meds to monitor his blood pressure levels. He has undergone radiation treatment for prostate cancer and seems to have that under control with estrogen injections. He was admitted to the psyc ward for observation when his behavior became disruptive to the other patients.
Now that he is home, we have a full time companion to assist him with his recovery and costodial care. His incontinence interrupts my 80 year old mother's evening rest. He has become increasingly agitated and impulsive. The lithium is being replaced by depakote and ripiradol. CAT scans have ruled out mini strokes.
Is there a way to check blood levels for a dimentia onset? Can this be better controlled with medication? Are ther other meds which could better replace lithium (which worked so well for over 20 years for him) instead of Depakote? Are there side effects? I think we need to consider a nursing home for him, but my mother is still quite active and not ready for assisted living, yet I don't want her to live alone. Any suggestions?
Now that he is home, we have a full time companion to assist him with his recovery and costodial care. His incontinence interrupts my 80 year old mother's evening rest. He has become increasingly agitated and impulsive. The lithium is being replaced by depakote and ripiradol. CAT scans have ruled out mini strokes.
Is there a way to check blood levels for a dimentia onset? Can this be better controlled with medication? Are ther other meds which could better replace lithium (which worked so well for over 20 years for him) instead of Depakote? Are there side effects? I think we need to consider a nursing home for him, but my mother is still quite active and not ready for assisted living, yet I don't want her to live alone. Any suggestions?
Doctor's Answer
by HFHS MD - RG, Mar 03, 2000 12:00AM
Dementia, though, common to the elderly population does not present the way your father does in a short period of time (8 1/2 weeks).
There is no accurate test Dementia. However, because of the other medications he is taking for his other physical ailments, drug interactions is a good possiblitity that your father is experiencing. Also because of his aging body, his usual dose of Lithium in the past may be too much for him now. The only medications which are FDA-approved for Bipolar Disorder are lithium and depakote. Other medication used for this disorder is Tegretol. Other medications undergoing research to test their effectiveness for this illness are neurontin, lamictal, topamax.
Your father's medication and dosages should be reviewed and he should closely monitored especially when he is taking the medications as he has a risk of taking either the wrong medication or the wrong dosage. A re-evaluation with a psychiatrist would benefit him.
You may want to consider assisted living for seniors which means they live in a place for seniors and have their own place but has staff available to help them with their daily living. This is different from nursing home as the residents live independently and come and go as they please but has a staff helping them out if necessary.
You may inquire regarding assisted living for seniors in your local library or civic center.
There is no accurate test Dementia. However, because of the other medications he is taking for his other physical ailments, drug interactions is a good possiblitity that your father is experiencing. Also because of his aging body, his usual dose of Lithium in the past may be too much for him now. The only medications which are FDA-approved for Bipolar Disorder are lithium and depakote. Other medication used for this disorder is Tegretol. Other medications undergoing research to test their effectiveness for this illness are neurontin, lamictal, topamax.
Your father's medication and dosages should be reviewed and he should closely monitored especially when he is taking the medications as he has a risk of taking either the wrong medication or the wrong dosage. A re-evaluation with a psychiatrist would benefit him.
You may want to consider assisted living for seniors which means they live in a place for seniors and have their own place but has staff available to help them with their daily living. This is different from nursing home as the residents live independently and come and go as they please but has a staff helping them out if necessary.
You may inquire regarding assisted living for seniors in your local library or civic center.
What cuases dementia?
how can it be treated?
please advise.