My mother fell and broke both arms this week. Insurance will cover home health care for 30 hours a week, I believe.
I live in Europe and she lives in the Washington DC area. Traveling home due to recent covid issues prevents me from helping immediately.
She has moved in with a friend and she can assist my mother the next several months but I am looking for tips for her to manage her daily life (even in small ways).
examples: Bathroom needs (when caregiver is not there), independently taking pills, voice activated phone apps for calling and voice typing, drinking devices, etc.
Many thanks for responding, especially if you have had a loved one with both arms broken and dealt with home care, post fall.
regards
-pete
Mostly I want to stress the importance of her going faithfully to PT afterwards and doing the exercises at home so that she regains all movement and strength. Your profile says your mom is in her early 70's, which is better than 92, but I was astonished at how fast my mom lost her muscle tone and strength -- someone who was up to the time of the break still vacuuming, scrubbing, doing yard work, sewing, driving, etc. She is a retired RN and was a total PT warrior and did all the exercises. Even so she has regained about 80% of abilities 5 months after the cast came off and the doc said that's about all that is coming back. Please encourage your mom to do all the PT recommended to her and to use her hands and arms (once medically cleared) even if it is somewhat painful. The pain will eventually diminish. I wish her a full and speedy recovery!
It was just a tough couple of months.
Lots of straws, lots of drip dry and lots of frustration.
Is she in casts over the elbow? If yes, I would think that a rehab facility might be a better choice. There is just no way to do certain things with full arm casts.
I would encourage her to make sure that she is left plenty of fluids that she can drink from a straw, like lined up on the counter so she doesn't have to lift them.
Wear house dresses with nothing underneath to go to the bathroom. Have a bidet installed.
Get those little plastic cups and have her meds sorted in them, then she can use her mouth to pick up the small cup and get the pills in her mouth.
My phone has voice commands, does mom have a smart phone?
Hire additional help if she needs more hours. It's just a couple of months and will be so helpful for her recovery. Stress interferes with our bodies ability to heal, so you want to minimize that, as much as possible.
Best of luck. This was definitely a challenge for my mom and she had her husband to help her 24/7.
You don’t see where the break is. Workarounds will depend up whether or not she can use wrist or fingers at all.
A good Occupational Therapist will know of best practices to manage with her particular restrictions, in her particular environment.
Pills should be able to be managed between 30 hrs a week and friend, yes? Even if she has to take them bunched into 2 times a day.
I remember when I broke my arm at 10 years old and every heartbeat hurt like fire. I can't imagine both of them. Ouch!
I would make sure she has someone with her 24/7.
I know an excellent caregiver in the DC area. She cared for my own mother.
Send me a personal message if you would like reference.
Why do you think Mom needs someone to manage her daily life? Has she asked you to to do this?
Yes she has had an awful accident & now has drastically altered ability for ADLS... But can she talk ok? Answer questions? Speak to medical professionals about her injury, treatment & recovery herself? Speak up for her needs?
I would have thought respite then rehab.. but if she has a friend willing & able to look after her - well, good. She can use the PT/OT outpatient services & work out what's best for her situation.
(In her shoes, I would appreciate the offer of help if I wanted it - but can't imagine needing my adult kids to advice me how to toilet myself 😉)