One of my parents has vascular parkinsonism due to small mini strokes. Mom is basically bedbound. Not sure if it’s because of the parkinsonism or if it’s because she is just hardheaded. But she’s been in the bed so long she is not able to get out anymore. In the past month I noticed she has started talking slower. Not sure if this is a progression of the disease or if she has had another stroke but it is hard to figure that out when you can’t really transport her to a doctor from the nursing home. Just wondering if anyone here has dealt with this disease and what I can expect.
Can you not arrange medical transport for testing?
Can her doctor order PT and speech therapy for her?
Has she had any falls? You want to make sure that there hasn't been a break (hip, pelvis) and that she's in pain.
They will have a nurse come to the nursing home once a week to start to check her vitals and such, aides to come bathe her at least twice a week, plus they will supply all of her needed equipment, supplies and medications all covered 100% under moms Medicare.
A nurse practitioner will also be assigned to your mom and you'll have access to the hospice chaplain, volunteers and social worker. Again all covered 100% under Medicare.
My late husband had vascular dementia which is the most aggressive of all the dementias, with a life expectancy of just 5 years. And he was under hospice care in our home for the last 22 months of his life. And he too was completely bedridden those last 22 months of his life.
It's tough this I know, but with hospice on board you no longer have to worry about getting mom to the doctor and they will keep her comfortable and pain free until the Good Lord calls her Home.
Wishing you all well.
https://www.bcm.edu/healthcare/specialties/neurology/parkinsons-disease-and-movement-disorders/vascular-parkinsonism