Rapid onset dementia FIL

[lolaflores]

Been a massive deterioration in FIL over 5 weeks. Gone from able to make a tea, cook, drive and recognise everyone to eing sectioned on saturday.
Hes had a sort of decline over 2 years. Language slowly reducing. Anxiety and repetition of topics he was worried about. Difficult to assure him all was ok.
He is in a psych unit.
My question is; how will a diagnosis be arrived at?
What possible medication would help control his agitation, sleeplessness
I know we are bot going to recover the ground he has lost but if things have gone the quick...what is the future likely to be?
They live 4 hours away. DH is going up and down 3 days of each week but I don't know how long he can keep that up.
Step MIL is fairly ok but there isnt a lot of family.
I think we have more questions than answers. Any insights are welcome

Hi, sorry you are going through this.

Has anyone spoken to a doctor about the agitation? There is medicine they can give for this (unsure of the name but know it begins with m).

Not sure how long diagnosis will take unfortunately, I am sure somebody will be along with more insight in to your questions soon.

Xx

While sectioned they will test him out on various meds to see what meets his needs (obviously it is more technical than that, but that's the jist)

Once they are able to control or ease his main symptoms they will be able to then assess him as to whether he can return home with support, with a care package or need residential or nursing care (the latter if he has medical issues that need regular treatment)

You may want to start looking at what nursing homes there are in his area and whether they provide :

Day care - providing Step MIL a break
Respite - longer, overnight stays so SMIL can catch her breath and maybe visit family or take a holiday
Full time care - he will live full time in a care facility

It's all a bit of guess work for you as you don't get know what his needs will be once his medication is sorted, but it won't harm to just have a browse around. If you wait until he's released from the unit it will be quite hectic to look around.

Any care facility worth their salt will welcome you in to show you around.

You may want to start looking at what nursing homes there are in his area and whether they provide

Sorry nursing or residential homes

May be worth checking in with local libraries or care facilities near to you as there may be dementia support groups you could pop in to for advice or to just feel less alone

I really appreciate your advice . We dont know a lot yet which doesn't help but hope that the next few days the docs can start to build up a clearer picture of what's what

Hi, mental health nurse here. If there's been such a rapid deterioration over a short period of time make sure his urine has been dip tested for infection

Hi, I was also going to suggest your fil be tested for a uti.

First of all so sorry. There's a possibility that a simple infection eg a uti is causing symptoms of delirium, this happened to my relative - once it was treated they made significant improvements. It's also alas possible it's vascular dementia which is basically caused by mini strokes, can be very sudden, the aforementioned relative lost capacity in quite sudden jumps.

Make sure you get support irl and if you need any help on care funding private message as I've got a good track record!

Hello,
No evidence of UTIs. There has been a steady decline over 5 weeks and the UTI was the 1st investigation.
And we are absolute novices with regard to funding for care. He will stay in a ward for 28 days while they work out what's going on after which I do t know

Sorry this has happened to you all. Has a stroke been ruled out? Has he had an MRI?

Re funding, does he have savings? Roughly, above 22K and he is expected to pay for care, above 14K and he'll have to contribute something, below that and it'll be covered by the local authority. Ring their adult social care number and get the ball rolling - he will need a care assessment.

He has money. There will be a wailing and gnashing of teeth at having to part with any of it (
StepMil).
No scans so far. It all seems to be progressing very slowly

I dont know how to alleviate DH stress and worry. Step MIL has occupied herself booking a weekend getaway to celebrate her birthday next August which took me aback. I have been researching nursing care or home help. I understand everyone reacts differently but I wasnt prepared for that. DH brother in Oz. Not much reaction or response from, but we cant make someone do anything.
It has happened so quickly and we r not prepared.

@lolaflores I'll message you x

It sounds as if Step MIL is in denial. I'm in that age group ( well 60's anyway) and for a lot of older women, they don't ever expect that this could happen. Especially if the man has always been "the strong one" and she has relied on him . Hopefully the truth will dawn on her soon - though I've seen examples where spouses never come to terms with it , and just turn to the next person ( ie you or your DH) to take care of their needs. Good luck.

That is MIL. FIL quite over bearing which has left her with little or no confidence in her own capacity. Maybe shell step up...
To my shame, they are ot peope I felt very close to but this was not in the plan. Is it for anyone?
He only retired 4 years ago and these small symptoms started 3 years ago. All out down to getting on. He was just in his 70s. He went good at retirement, he got depressed or was it this starting. Dont know.
There is a lot of silence and waiting for DH to speak otherwise he feels intruded on. The family turn very much inwards.
It's a minefield