Medical question for the Drs- Covid + Dementia

[NewEra]

My mom has been in the early stages of dementia the last 2.5 years.  She’s been living with my wife and I, but has been pretty capable.  She stays by herself and our dog while my wife I work 3-4 days a week.  She sundowns but seems to be able to overcome it when we aren’t around.  Those are the only times I’ve seen her really confused. 
 

Well, she just got Covid and is taking paxlovid.  The virus hit her yesterday morning and since then, she’s had a serious regression and is lost most of the time.  I definitely can’t leave her home alone in as she is.  
 

anyone have any information regarding if she’ll stay in this state after the virus is gone or if she’ll regain some of it when Covid is gone?

 

Any information would be appreciated.  As would any leads regarding Medicare dementia services.  Thanks

[Just Jack]

Hi New Era, my wife is actually a Geriatric Social Worker here in NYS and offered some insight.

 

Unfortunately, Medicare does not cover much in terms of Home Care Services, etc without a skilled need or post hospitalization requirement.

However you should have a local Office of the Aging or Area Agency on Aging who can help guide you on what services she may qualify for.  She did a quick google search and found this website (not sure how helpful it will be but at least it is a start):  Las Vegas Aging and Developmental Disability

 

She also suggested connecting with your local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association:  Desert Southwest Chapter

as they may also provide some insight and guidance (here in NYS the Alz Assoc offers care consultations where they will meet with the family free of charge to talk about concerns, provide education and help with planning.)

 

As for your medical question, while she is not a doctor she has worked in the field for over 20 years and explained that COVID can take a lot out of a "normal" person but when you add in the effects of COVID, your mom will likely take a hit.  The hope is that she will recover some from her bout with COVID, but as with any older adult, she may not get back to where she was prior to getting sick.

 

She also looked up potential Geriatrics offices in your area for more medical guidance (here in NYS she works for 1 of 10 Centers of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease within a Geriatrics Office).  It looks like UNLV has a Geriatrics program that may be worth looking into with regards to medica care focused on aging and her dementia.

 

UNLV Health - World-class doctors close to home.

 

Hopefully this will be helpful to you and your family.  

Edited November 18 by Just Jack

[Sweats]

I had Covid for the first time about 3 weeks ago and i'll tell you that even though i'm a young 55, my head was in a complete fog for almost 2 weeks. I was lost, confused and just had a hard time even doing simple tasks. I've never had that feeling before and certainly never want to ever have it again........as you've all seen on these boards, my mind is my life and the crown jewel of my existence.

 

I think once the Covid has gone, she will be back to her semi-self.

I know that everyone experiences Covid differently and i was in rough shape for a couple of weeks, however, once it 100% went away, i was back to my old self.

You have to remember that if someone has dementia, Covid and is on meds, well that's going to do a real number on you. That's a bit of a trifecta go9ing on right there.

 

Give her a little time and see how it plays out, but i am confident that once the Covid is gone, things will ease up for you a bit.

Wish i could help more........my mom had dementia for a bunch of years and it's not easy and it doesn't get any easier, my friend.

[Wacka]

We looked into Hospice  for mom for the last 8 moths of her life. She had dementia. Not saying your mom is anywhere to that stage, but it is something  to consider in the future. Hopefully the Hospice by you  is as good as the Ralph  and Mary Wilson Hospice in Cheektowaga. Had her physician  refer her to them. They evaluated her and determined that she could be seen at home. 

 

They would come every other week, then weekly and then several times a week at the end. Besides keeping tabs on her, they helped us out by teaching us how to do certain things without injuring her. They had counselors  and religious pep[le available to help us cope. The social worker had to come and lay it on the line to my  brother that mom was dying soon.  In fact it was maybe 2 weeks before the end that he seemed to finally face facts. 

 

In the end, she died the way she wanted, at home and in her own bed at 95. Even after  that they helped out. Would have called the undertaker for us if we wanted, came before the undertaker (they were only a mile away), signed the death certificate, removed all of her meds from the house. You get a hospice benefit from Medicare (at least in NY) and it didn't cost a cent.

 

Just file this knowledge away. Hospice workers are the closest thing to Angels on earth.

 

 

Edited November 20 by Wacka

[Augie]

For what it’s worth……My mom turns 97 on Monday and she’s been slipping badly for about 3 years. Maybe 6 months ago she got Covid in the nursing home. There was a noticeable drop off in her ability to function, but I think part of that was being isolated in a room for 10 days. She did recover from what she lost during Covid, but it’s still hit or miss every day. It’s all just a giant gut wrenching rollercoaster. 

 

She’s actually a little better mentally now than she was in the first year of the nursing home. It was very disorienting and disturbing for her. She hasn’t called me by my father’s name in a year, but before that it was 50/50. I feel for you. It’s killing me, and I just go visit the nursing home. My next door neighbor went thru it with his mother and his therapist suggested he write a book about the experience, so he did. 

[Joe Ferguson forever]

infections of any type often cause mental status changes in the elderly.  while there is no way to know for certain, acute changes like this often clear or return to baseline after the infection has cleared.

[Wacka]

My mother was getting around ok  but worse, but about as getting forgetful (nothing bad) but then broke her foot about  3-4 years before she died . Started getting a little worse. Spent about 3 weeks ib a nursing hone  to recover from pneumonia. Then she started going downhill. Never walked again. Basically I think after the trauma of the Pneumonia, she basically started giving up but her body wouldn't let her.