JANET RILEY IHUMAN: "CONFUSION AND MEMORY LOSS
Mrs. Janet Riley is a 79-year-old Caucasian female with progressive cognitive and memory deficits,
... [Show More] emotional lability and behavioral changes for about 3 to 4 years now, especially the last few months those symptoms have been worst. Mrs. Riley has been noted that she is unable to complete her activities of daily living, and lack of interest in previous activities and friends. She also mixes up words, forget names of familiar people, and gets angry when help is offered. For her memory loss and confusion, medication such as cholinesterase inhibitors can be prescribed. However, safety issue is the most concern for Mrs. Riley, and prevention is the key (National Institute of Aging, 2017). The National Instute of Aging (2017) suggested that smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should be installed in or near the kitchen and all bedroom, also all phone numbers, include 911, poison control, hospital, PCP, and more, should be displayed next to phones or anywhere easy to see around the house. They also suggested that safety knobs and an automatic shut-off switch should be installed on the stove (National Institute of Aging, 2017). Moreover, all medications, prescribed or OTC, need to be locked up. Alcohol, cleaning or household products are other dangerous item that need to be removed from the home (National Institute of Aging, 2017). There should be no weapons, guns, machinery or gas online cans around the house of patient with Alzheimer’s disease (National Institute of Aging, 2017). Last but not least, it’s important to make sure simplify the house to reduce clusters to prevent falling. Even though it might not be ideal to hire a caregiver for Mrs. Riley, it doesn’t hurt to try since it’s no longer safe for Mrs. Riley to live by herself anymore. Family can continue to check in with her or even move in with her though this is not going to be easy. Nevertheless, these options can be suggested to family. A deeper evaluation should be done with patient’s PCP or even a Neurologist to formally give patient a diagnose of Alzheimer disease. In a worst case scenario, patient’s daughter might need to become her DPOA (durable Power of Artorney) to assist patient in any decision making. [Show Less]