Chest infection confusion

[Pinklady81]

My elderly grandmother 93 has had some admissions to hospital over last 2 years - fractured femur and hip and then pelvis . Both times she was on pain relief and become very confused whilst in hospital and it did resolve thankfully and she has been living independently since then.

Over Christmas she developed a nasty chest infection and was placed on steroids, this resulted in last week her becoming violently ill vomiting blood and in her faeces and taken to hospital. She has then had a heart attack and nothing could be done for this and we were expecting the worse and was called twice over the weekend to say our goodbyes . This has not happened and she has once again rallied around but over last day or so has become very agitated , confused and so not like her. The nurses have said she is on no pain relief but are now treating her for a lung infection despite over the weekend having a scan and nothing was present . We are just all really confused what's going on, has anyone got any advice ?

Not really any advice - it could just be due to her age and change of surroundings/stress that the confusion and agitation has gotten worse.
There is such a very very fine line in very elderly people and it only takes a slight change in one thing to start knocking the balance off.
The steroids were probably too harsh for their system too xx

I guess I mainly wanted to reply saying I hope things improve and send you best wishes 💐

They can get confused with infections. Make sure she’s hydrated, give her a drink every time you visit.

Many elderly people get hospital delirium. My mother used to be totally batshit after a couple of days in hospital bless her. It's very scary

Thank you @Vergeofbreakdown23 @for @dawnofthenugget .

She is worse today, knows who we are by sight but just random conversations . She is more calm today but has probably done so as she got out of bed and packed her clothes and fell twice apparently according to the patient opposite .

Treating her again for chest infection and trying to get urine sample. It's so awful to see her like this and the doctor has found it hard to believe she lives alone but we have told him she isn't like this . She is totally of sound mind

It's a super scary thing for both the visitor and patient. My mum used to be worse on a certain anti sickness drug I recall. Within a couple of hours of getting her home she was her old self.

When my dad was in hospital his treatment completely changed when I provided evidence of a catastrophic decline in competence (in the form of a written statement that two days before his admission he had taken himself by bus to a chiropody appointment then done his week’s grocery shopping before returning home). There is an assumption that if a confused elderly person appears in hospital, that is their normal state.

UTI can cause confusion in the elderly
Steroids cause my mum to be agitated and not able to sleep well

My mum is in hospital just now and has lurched from one respiratory infection to another since the end of November. Started with pneumonia then covid then chest infection. Now being treated for a 2nd chest infection and is back on antibiotics. Feel she'll be stuck there indefinitely

Thanks everyone she has now been diagnosed with .... you guessed it a UTI. Very tired today and poorly and now on a catheter ! This is never ending

My mum always goes a bit crazy and confused with UTIs. And can have falls too with being disorientated. Hope she feels better soon