Respite #2 - Drugs, Pain Management and Drunken Fools
One of the most difficult responsibilities that I encountered in taking care of a dementia patient who requires doses of strong pain and other psychotropic medicines is keeping the patient at just the right point where the pain is minimized while keeping sedation/confusion at a minimum as well. It is also difficult, sometimes impossible, for the patient to communicate the degree and location of the pain. The patient's posture, demeanor, rate of cigarette comsumption and movement should all be taken into consideration. Sometimes, if you are not careful, are unlucky, or the patient has an untreated urinary infection, overmedication can result in drunken foolish behavior and that is a bummer. ~Jack
