Any suggestions or tips on how to get elder with dementia to take psychiatric med when they are in denial, do not think they have a problem and don’t want to take anything psychiatric? There is no guardianship so I don’t believe we can literally force it…
When mom refused her meds, her doc ordered them ground up and put into yoghurt so she didn't even realize she was taking them. I only had POA, no guardianship, which I do not believe allows you to force anyone to take meds. But what he doesn't know may help him, hopefully.
When my mother was in AL from2016-2018 , and my FIL was in a different AL from 2022-Jan 2024, they would not lie to them , despite my asking them too . I tried . They weren’t violent . They were both depressed , and calling us up all the time complaining , didht think they belonged there , demanding to leave , refused hygiene and help with incontinence care.
As is common with dementia , Neither one could recognize there was anything wrong with them and said they didn’t need that pill . My mother said “ I’m not crazy “ , my FIL thought they wanted to drug him “ to take his independence away “.
They both scrutinized every pill given to them to make sure they recognized it or they asked what it was for.
I know when they are further along in memory care it’s easier , like Lealonnie says they can crush them and hide them in pudding.
Since my mother wouldn’t take any med for her mood, and OCD , I had to take one in order to survive dealing with her . Seems backwards to me . Just one of the reasons I left working in healthcare .
I don’t have an answer for you . The answer is to lie to him and say it’s a vitamin , but that’s not allowed. Instead we let them suffer in their circular OCD , anxiety ridden brains these days .
now that I understand this term well:
1) myself and family tried our hardest to explain it to him, that he is severely impaired in thinking, not "okay" as he thinks he is. We were not sure if he would get it, but it was worth a try. I dont think it worked and he does not have understanding still.
2) Now realizing this is what he has, I'm trying to work with knowing that is the case, telling the doctors and care staff that that is what he has, so they quickly know.
Wish me luck.....
What medications did you find that was beneficial for your mother without makingbher a zombie? I tried to reply to your comment but the option wasn’t there.
Even with guardianship you can’t “force” them to take a medication but you can try to find ways to get them into a patient without having to swallow a pill. I learned a little too late that many of these medications can come in liquid form too, not all can be crushed or administered in liquid form but many can. Good luck.
Instead of saying she “needed” to take them, I started telling her that they were to keep her healthy. I would remind her how much she liked to stay healthy and how she didn’t like going to the doctor and so taking the pills were a way to keep her strong and young. Since that resonated with her, she began to take them willingly.
Gosh his OCD sounds truly awful! 😣
The combination of these symptoms intereferring with his daily life so much plus refusing prescribed medication that could help.. this may just land him an inpatient psych stay soon.
If he has any condition that bothers HIM (this is key) tell him the pills are for that. My dad only took his pills because we told him they would help with insomnia (which they did)
Good luck!
Add to ice cream
Add to anything they will eat.
This person has dementia and no one has legal authority?
Who is making these decisions?
Gena / Touch Matters
Are there any geriatric psych hospitals near him ?