Assisted Living Frequently Asked Questions » Health care
My mother has an IV to help hydrate her. She has dementia, so she forgets what the tubes are for, and she keeps removing them from her arm. What can we do?
If your mother is living in her own home, it is likely difficult to monitor her closely enough to see when she's struggling with the tubing. Most people don't require 24-hour attentive caregivers to monitor for such a need, but she may benefit from making a move to an adult care home, where a caregiver can monitor her more diligently.
If she's removing the tubes out of instinct, or if there is pain or irritation, she may make sudden movements that no one can prevent from happening; but it's possible that a caregiver who knows your mother well could sense that she is uncomfortable or concerned and could help redirect your mother to think of other things or give her comfort to be accepting of the IV.
The side effects of medications can create other problems for you, but you may consider talking to your doctor about anti-anxiety medication that may help your mother in the short-term.
Your mother may be able to eliminate the IV if there were a caregiver present giving her water and ice more frequently throughout the day.
Last update: 2007-05-07 20:48
Author: Tech Support
Revision: 1.0
