ABSTRACT
An 82-year-old woman was brought to hospital after her husband called for an ambulance. He described a 2-week decline in his wife's mobility, which had progressed from her walking outdoors independently to now only walking a few steps indoors with his assistance. The patient's husband said that she had become confused and was not orientated to time or place. She had also developed new urinary incontinence over the preceding fortnight. The patient had been refusing food and water for the past 24 hours, which had prompted the telephone call to the emergency services. The patient had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease several years ago and had longstanding hypertension. She took 5 mg amlodipine OD but no other medications. She had worked as a judge until the age of 65 and had maintained an active lifestyle until recent months. No further history was available at this point. The ambulance crew described the patient's husband as also being confused, although significantly less so than his wife.
