Expert: Paula Damgaard - 2/7/2007

Question
I take care of my grandmother at home she is 91 and in end stage alzheimers. she also has degenerative joint disease in her right hip and arthritis in her right knee. in the last few weeks she has been drawing her knee up to her chest and cries out when we try to move or touch that leg. now is stays that way and hospice said it was muscle contractions, but did not give me  as much info as I needed is this part of the alzheimers or just the diseases in her legs and should i do anything other than give her pain meds, such as trying to move the leg or do passive exercises I hate to do that as it hurts her to move it she cries every time I turn her but she has lost so much wieght due to poor eating and is so bony i am afraid of bed sores if i dont turn her. I just need to know exactly what to do  to make sure she is as comfortable as possible, and to know if this is my fault for not doing more passive exercises in the past.

Answer
Dear Monica, this is NOT your fault.  It is the disease.  You are right to worry about bed sores.  Is she on an air mattress?  This can help to take the place of moving her.  It will help to make her less likely to have a bedsore.  

Have you tried putting some mild heat on the joint areas?  This could help to decrease her pain some, but you have to be very careful not to make it too hot as she won't be able to tell you it is burning her.  Giving her gentle massages helps as well.  

I hope this helps you.  Take care Paula