I wondered if anyone has been able to successfully get some anxiety relief for their LO, without it making them loopy or increasing fall risk. My LO with moderate dementia is so restless and worried all the time. He never smiles or laughs and is negative about everything (but sweet natured). It's so sad to see my formerly light-hearted LO being such a worrier to the point he does not seem to enjoy his life.
You have to weigh the "Benefit VS Burden" when deciding what to do.
Have you talked to the doctor about the medications that might work? (you do not mention a specific dementia and some dementias contraindicate some medications)
Falls happen. You can do what you can to minimize them. But if one happens it is not your fault.
The use of a walker can minimize them. A cane might help as well. Good shoes. Getting rid of throw rugs, making sure there is nothing on the floor that can pose a hazard.
An assessment from a PT or OT can help as well.
I've never had dizzy episodes or fallen while on it. But I'm also only 65.
There are many things that elders can take for anxiety, it's a matter of patience finding the right med and the right dose. If I give my 260 lb hubby 1 mg of klonipin he sleeps for 2 days. I take the same amount and just calm down.
So we know he is super-sensitive to benzos and if he has a panic attack, he gets like 1/4 of a miligram.
My 92 yo MIL takes Valium, everyday and it does help her to be less abrasive and mean. So I hear, I don't see her anymore. She falls a lot, but it's due to the fact she refuses to use her walker, she shoves a chair around her house. Because that looks less 'old'. I agree, it makes her look demented.
Anyway, it's a crapshoot, finding the right med to help with anxiety in the moment. A lot of AD's have that qaulity, but take a long time to help.
My LO was falling frequently at home, with progressively escalating degrees of injury.
She was also perpetually anxious and depressed.
After a relatively stormy arrival in AL, followed by an almost immediate transfer to MC, we had a formal assessment done and learned that she was already living with moderate dementia AND her anxiety level was increasing.
I requested a ”trial” of a small dose of anxiety medication, and it was successful.
She continued to have a fall once in a while, but was now in a setting where her welfare could be monitored round the clock.
Similar to your LO, once the correct level of medication was reached, my LO began dressing as she had before entering full time care, cracking jokes, and interacting appropriately with other residents and staff.
If there is an on staff geriatric psychiatrist, as in our situation, you’re half way to where you need to be.
https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/health/info-2017/ways-to-manage-sundown-syndrome.html?cmp=KNC-DSO-CAREGIVING-HealthRelatedConcerns-22817-GOOG-SundownSyndromeCare-Exact-NonBrand&gclid=Cj0KCQjw37iTBhCWARIsACBt1IwtAJ6hR0CV9NGZuFsgMXpNlxWw9e0jZHLxSBvnWnOsX4gePd0xoZcaAkStEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
Trial and error seem to be the best way to go. Small doses, increasingly slowly and watching for the outcome--you can probably find SOMETHING that is calming without being sedating to the point you now have a fall risk.