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For the past 3 months, my grandma has been on and off yelling/screaming. She is currently bed bound because of a fall she had about 4 months ago. She uses briefs and has not gone to the bathroom since she fell. She will yell/scream our names. When we go to her room, she says she wants to go to the bathroom. Sometimes she is put in the 3.1 commode, but sometimes we tell her she has her briefs and will change her once she has gone #1 or #2. Regardless of what we tell her, she is fixated that she has to go to the bathroom and will also attempt to get out of bed. She will say she has to go out etc. She will make mean and blaming comments like, “your a snake” “it’s your fault” “your the devil” etc etc. She appears to know what she is saying or doing. So we don’t know what is happening with her. These behavior start as early as 5am-6am to anytime during the day. We have noticed that sometimes she will be calm for two consecutive days and then suddenly she will start screaming/yelling. Any feedback or comments will be greatly appreciated.

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How recently has she been checked for a UTI?
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How upsetting this must be for you and your family! Segoline is right. Urinary tract infections (or UTI) can make older people act like theyre totally off the wall. They scream, yell, hallucinate, get nasty and become combative. She hasn’t pottied since she fell? Are you sure? She may feel like she needs to go, but if it's been a while, she may not be able to. What’s she eating? Enough fiber and fruits/vegetables? Drinking enough water? Ask her doctor for a recommendation. Should she be sent to the ER? Can they recommend someone who can come to your home to examine her?

The yelling and screaming and nastiness can also be signs of dementia and you need to have her tested. Again, ask the doctor.
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Arent there some tests strips one can get at the drugstore to check for UTI?
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Ahmijoy Feb 2019
Yes, but if there’s an infection, she will still need to see a doctor for antibiotics. And, if there is an infection they will want to culture the urine in a second test to see which antibiotic will work.
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Yes, but the strips might initiate a more urgent response. That's why I ask. Op, in older adults, a UTI does not have the same symptoms as it might in a younger person. The only symptom may be off the wall crazy.

When you described the undies and her elimination habits, it was my first thought. Because fecal can easily enter the urethra under these circumstances. Casting no aspersions. We all learn from shared experiences. Stick around. Let us know.
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If your grandma says she wants to get up to go to the bathroom, and is physically capable of getting up and safely use the commode with your assistance, it’s a much better outcome than telling her to use her briefs. Is she’s unsafe to use the actually bathroom as she requests with your help? Defecating into briefs can encourage urinary tract infection when bacteria from feces could enter the urinary tract. Also peeing into a toilet or commode can more completely empty the bladder. Even then clean up must be meticulous, always wiping front to back.
My Mom is incontinent a lot of the time, but sometimes still tell us when she needs to use the bathroom. I encourage that, when she does communicate that feeling, I would never tell her to use her briefs. Not only because she would be humiliated, but also for the poor health outcomes.
As mentioned already, please have her tested for a UTI as soon as possible.
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