AboutMichalene Peticca Expertise I'd be happy to help with any questions about Alzheimer's or Dementia diseases. I can also help with Medicare, Long term care & other insurance questions.
Experience I have my Masters degree in Geriatrics and am credentialed through the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Pennstate Milton Hershey hospital and the American Geriatrics Society. I've been in healthcare for over 20 years and worked directly with Alzheimer's and Dementia individuals for most of that time. I am also a licensed insurance agent in PA and MD. Currently i train healthcare professionals to care for Alzheimer and Dementia individuals and i have been a care manager for guardianship services in PA
Organizations American Geriatrics Society
Education/Credentials Masters degree in Geriatrics
Licensed insurance agent in PA & MD.
Past/Present clients PHI Homes in Pennsylvania
York, Dauphin & Adams County Area on Aging
The Jewish Home of Harrisburg
Question My mother is 77 years old. She fell and broke her hip in August. The doctor's sent her to rehab but they had to release her because she just refused to do it. Now she can't take care of herself at all, so I had to make the difficult choice to take her home or to leave her in the nursing home. I can see a decline in her day by day. She want eat, want get out of the bed and she is saying things that are off the wall. I think she may have some dementia and she acts like she's given up. I know people that break your hips sometime don't live past a year. What do you think is going on? And what should I expect to happen next?
Answer Hi Sherry,
I am so very sorry about your mother. It sounds like this has been a significant decline for her since breaking her hip.
While it is not uncommon for most older individuals to experience some Dementia like symptoms from the residual of surgery anesthesia, it does seem that her symptoms are being compounded by lack of eating, etc.
Most likely she is experiencing some Depression along with a lack of nutrients. At least i would start to look at those two reasons first, as they are quite "fixable".
Please check with her physician about a comparable anti-depressant and/or appetite enhancement such as Megase. Also, will she accept nutrient shakes? Ensure is not a favorite...but, i think
there is a brand called "Magic shakes" that pack many more nutrients and vitamins. If not...at the very least a Multi-vitamin daily.
Also please have her caregivers consider a urine test for a urinary tract infection and/or blood
testing to check her potassium levels.
As for the question regarding her life expectancy. I have seen many people live well beyond a year after a fractured hip. Your mother is on the "young" end of being older...so unless she had substantial medical challenges before her broken hip, she may be around quite awhile.
I hope this helps give you some direction to start with your mom.
