What the gerontologist said about Risperidone and other stuff

Mum has really deteriorated mentally recently. I decided to take her back to the gerontologist for further advice. 

I noticed she doesn't seem to be swallowing properly. I thought the swallowing thing was confined to the very last stages, but she seems to have it already. She chews and chews, tries to swallow, coughs, splutters and runs to the bathroom to spit it out. Then she abuses me over my 'horrible cooking' and the 'cheap cuts of meat' that I buy. But it happens no matter what she's eating. I'm really not sure if it's an excuse to have a go at me, or if she genuinely is choking. The gerontologist wasn't sure, either. 

She won't drink anything. She keeps demanding cups of tea, all day long. I sit her down in front of the tea. Often I'll try and stay there and keep saying "Take a sip. Keep drinking." But it doesn't work. Usually it's the thought of a cat that takes her away from the tea. Where's the cat? Is my cat inside? It's freezing out there. The cat will die of cold. And off she goes. I haven't seen her drink more than a mouthful of tea in weeks. She went to the dentist last week and he said her mouth was dehydrated and I should see the doctor urgently.

Tea was her main source of hydration. She used to drink it all day long. Now, she won't drink tea, she won't drink coffee, milk or water. 

The gerontologist thought maybe this refusal of sustenance is the beginning of something. We'll just have to wait and see. 

He indicated that treatment from now on should be palliative. He wouldn't advise operating if she had cancer, for example; but he would advise setting a broken leg to relieve pain. He's definitely against feeding tubes. So am I. 

He also said that we should try a small dose of risperidone. I've been against it in the past, when she seemed to be enjoying life, when she was able to make herself cups of tea, go for walks around the block, take herself to a shop and buy something. But I'm not resisting it now. I think if it makes her less afraid and less frantic, then it can only be a good thing.

Risperidone is not recommended for use in dementia. It's dangerous for elderly people. It predisposes them to strokes or heart attacks. But it also may calm them down, and may even give her a few more months at home. Normally it's a drug that's used to treat schizophrenia. Whatever Mum has, it's a lot like schizophrenia. I'm surprised people haven't said more about the similarities between Alzheimers and schizophrenia. A cure for one might lead to a cure for the other. 

If something doesn't change, she'll be back in a nursing home by Christmas. It can't go on like this.