Vascular Dementia

[maclen]

Hello

My mum is 71 and we are awaiting an MRI to confirm Vascular Dementia. She started getting dizzy about 1.5 years ago and we thought it was due to her heart but they ruled that out and only now we've got to this diagnosis due to her poor mobility. Is there anything we can do to try and slow this disease down? Or any good resource links to information. The rapid decline in the last 6 months is heartbreaking

Thanks for any advice.

I don't have any answers OP, but I am in a similar position with my mum.
I'm annoyed that the GP has constantly prescribed anti-vertigo/anti-sickness pills without really investigating the cause.
After a recent hospital stay for a UTI and a rapid decline in mobility and strength, and memory/ability to follow instructions, I am going to push for dementia investigations.

Hopefully we will both get some answers.

Does your mum have memory issues/keep repeating stuff etc?

Thanks for the reply. So my mum was totally with it but started having dizzy spells and they said vertigo, heart problem, blood pressure ect. Only now where she can hardly walk and is having memory loss are they looking into it. This has been ongoing for over a year it's terrible. She's at the point now it's too far gone to help...

I could have written your last post practically word for word. I can't believe it's never been even mentioned before her hospital stay.

I think they can probably offer some help for your mum, and mine hopefully , there are medications that can stop it progressing so quickly.

I feel for you OP. It's shite isn't it?!

Feel free to PM me if you want to chat off the boards...

Vascular dementia is like it sounds, caused by damage to the small vessels in the brain that cause progressive damage to the brain. So although it can't be medicated in the same way as Alzheimer's, it can be treated in the same way as other cardiovascular diseases. So they address issues with blood pressure, clotting, cholesterol, etc. Sometimes they will use medication to address specific symptoms around mood or sleep.

Lifestyle factors are important too. Healthy diet, cognitive stimulation and physical exercise. ( seated exercises can be great if balance is a problem)

Good luck, OP. Make sure you get support for yourself as well.

Oh, and Alzheimer's Society has good resources and information for all types of dementia. Their forum is called Dementia Talking Point, and it's a wonderful place to connect with other people supporting loved ones with dementia.

Agree with this totally.

We found the Admiral Nurses helpful.

My best piece of advice is that they're usually one stage on from what you realise, so try and sort out as much as possible now.

If you haven't got a formal diagnosis yet, see if she'll grant you POA for both health and finance this week. It's much cheaper and easier than being being appointed a Guardian.

Request a Care Needs Assessment fir your DM and make sure you're there when it's done, they don't always want to admit how bad things or in even remember that they're struggling.

Apply for Attendance Allowance. If you phone for the forms and the AA is granted, they'll backdate it to the date of your call.

Fill in This Is Me and keep a copy on your phone. It's very useful if she has carers or goes into Hospital.

Do the Herbert Protocol. It differs from each Police Force so you'll need to google Herbert Protocol and then the county she lives in. It's incredibly useful if she ever goes missing. Again, keep it on your phone.

I'm so sorry you're going through this. Please do keep us updated. The Elderly Parents Section on here is usually very useful too

Thank you all for your previous advice.

My mum can no longer speak or move. She struggles to eat. She has a live in carer and we are waiting for a full care package assessment to be completed. She lives in one room and is in nappies. It's utterly heartbreaking. I don't know if she understands what I say to her either. I feel robbed of a mum and my kids their nanny. I wonder how long she will live in this state 😭

Is there anything I should be doing or could try to engage her more or help her live a better life ?

Thanks for reading

That's such a fast decline, I'm not surprised that you're grieving for you lovely DM

I haven't got many suggestions but maybe putting done hand cream in for her will give you both a bit of comfort, playing some of the music that she liked when she was younger and maybe putting her favourite perfume in first her and a bit of lip balm?

A little update if it helps others see the timeline but mum is losing weight and on level 4/5 foods now. I have no idea if she knows who we are anymore. She has round the clock care but hasn't moved from her bed since my last post in November and I assume it's just a waiting game now until she passes... which I'm still not ready for, even though her quality of life is zero 😭 I was hoping to get her in a wheelchair and take her out but everyone thinks this is a bad idea as she doesn't like being moved and would be distressing for her.

The worst disease I have witnessed and my thoughts are with everyone else living through this currently x

My mum has now passed away. Thanks for those replies it meant a lot x

Sorry for your loss it sounds like it was a very cruel end. You sound like a lovely caring daughter I'm sure she knew this.

@maclen I'm sorry for your loss but your dear mum is resting at peace now and any suffering for her has ended.
What a cruel disease, awful for family and friends who witness it.
💐

maclen - so sorry for your loss. Dementia is a bloody awful disease, vascular dementia even more so.

be kind to yourself - you did what you could to help your Mum. Vascular dementia can really take a grip fast, with a rapid downward spiral

Oh that's so sad, really really sorry to read your thread 😔 xx

I'm sorry for you loss. My mum passed away from vascular dementia too. Horrendous end to her life

So sorry 😞

@maclen i am so very sorry to hear this. The last few months and now her death must have been immeasurably hard. I have no religious beliefs, and everyone is different, but I do feel my dearly loved granny who died in 2004 is with me still. I hope you find comfort over time x