Worried about my 77year old mum

[drmacf]

Hi everyone,

My name is Mel and I’have just joined this forum. Hope everyone is fine and enjoying the unusually warm Feb days.
Would be grateful for general advise about my mum, who lives on her own and who I’m deeply concerned about . She is a feisty 77 year old who used to talk and work nonstop all her life
Sadly, in the last 6-12 months have noticed several changes. For one she forget her own birthday! Something very unusual I should say. She was got more and more disorganised and to some extent even irritable and aggressive. In the past, I would have difficulty trying to get off the phone to her, as she would talk and talk. Now I notice that she hardly talks for more than 2 mins.
She doesn’t even know the day of the week or the date
Physically she is very active, suffered from type 2 diabetes, Hypertension and thyroid problems. I cross checked her medications and they seem fine.
Any advise on how to go about? Would be grateful for a plan or some ideas

She also has terrible issues with urinary incontinence and is incontinent at night times. Is there any pads or supportive garments I could buy privately?

Any things I could buy? To help her improve her quality of life or support her as I try and sort this out?
Any advise would be much appreciated
KR

Mel

Hi OP
First of all, you should get her booked in for a memory test with her GP's surgery. That should give some early indication if there's anything going on. You can also ask for an appointment with the continence nurse/practitioner who'll be able to advise on next steps/whether tests are needed etc.

Secondly, is she living alone? Contact Adult Social Care and ask for a needs assessment. You might have to wait a while but they'll come out to your mum's house and assess her needs and if there's any simple fixes which would make her life easier.

Hope that helps.

You can get Tena lady pads or pants which might help whist waiting for a continence assessment.
also do you have a lasting power of attourney in place? So you can act on her behalf? Invaluable.
age uk or carers uk are a great resource.

Urinary infections can cause confusion in the elderly. They can also cause or exacerbate urinary incontinence/leakage. Perhaps her GP could arrange a urine test for her?

I was about to suggest the same. I'd get her to the GP pronto as this would be a good starting point.