Not sure how to help with mum’s confusion

[Between4and30letters]

Living with my mother at the moment, as she has a lot of care needs to mental illness and wouldn’t get the support she’d need without me being here . She wouldn’t be able to contact people by phone or do online shops etc .

She was diagnosed with functional neurological disorder last year and they said one of the most major things is when she’s very stressed her mind shuts down, she gets confused and says odd things . Last year she was convinced princess Diana had met her, she was a close personal friend of lots of people on TV etc .

She was a hundred times better - doctors very happy and confirmed not worried about Alzheimer’s - but this last week has started saying odd stuff again .

Tonight she’s said that relative has been walking past calling on her ... she’s also continually telling me a man gave her a box of razors that he found in a shed and she’s using them for shaving . None of that’s at really true and it’s so confusing (for her and I).

Her MH team are still ringing weekly and I’m happy to talk to them but I’m not sure if I should try to encourage mum to do anything tonight or if I should be ringing 111 or something ?

It isn’t an acute problem as such - but it’s distressing her and she’s angry with me for not understanding. If Coronavirus wasn’t a thing I’d have rung nhs 24 tbh, but I don’t want to be a bother to anyone !

What a difficult time for you both
I wondered if she may have a urine infection or a chest infection or something which can often kick up new/acute confusion or delirium?
Otherwise I would definitely speak with her GP or the mental health team or both
Do you have power of attorney or anything to be able to talk to medics for/about her?

2 things.

1. Infection can exacerbate these issues. So can low oxygenation. Speak to your Gp, see if they can assess by phone/ video. If you can measure pulse/ sats/ respiratory rate or dipstick urine (pharmacies may be able to help) then do as this can help inform diagnosis.
2. Don’t challenge as it can cause distress. If it were delusions I’d say avoid reinforcing, but given your mum’s diagnosis this isn’t a worry. Reassure. (How nice of him. Now let’s...)

This is very basic, but sometimes forgotten, make sure she’s drinking enough if you can, my friend’s mother had horrendous (quick onset) confusion, including talking to her husband that died 15 years before. It turned out to be purely a lack of fluids