Does anyone else's mom refuse to wear compression socks?

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Does anyone else's mom refuse to wear compression socks?

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I'm tired of doing everything for mom and if she won't wear them, so be it... let nature take its course, I feel. She won't walk or keep her legs elevated to improve blood circulation if I leave the room or am not around her.

Are there any other ways to deal with poor circulation in legs?

Burnout Family Caregiver Senior Health

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Why are her feet swelling? I take Amlodipine Besylate, it is notorious for causing edema in feet and legs. If that is the case perhaps switching to a different blood pressure medicine would be a big help. For myself, Amlodipine seems to be the only effective BP medicine. I have tried 3 others and every time I land in the ER, with BP over 220/110. Now I am afraid to change.

Is she on a low sodium diet? That does help me a little.

I tried compression socks, I can only get on the light ones and they don't do any good.

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Try getting the L'eggs pantyhose that they used to sell for "all day energy" they have some compression ability. You can also see about sequential compression devices that use a pump to gently inflate on the lower legs to improve blood flow.

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wearynow: Compression stockings are quite difficult to put on. However, my late mother, who had been wearing them for years, had the process down pat - even better than my brother and I, who struggled to get them on her legs when she was in the NH. Also, sometimes compression stockings make leg and foot edema worse. I was once instructed to wear them by my vein specialist, I donned them for a twelve hour period, only to find the edema had worsened. When I contacted my specialist about the issue, he responded "Sometimes compression stockings make leg and foot edema worse."

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1. Ask her primary doctor if he or she can order "home health" to wrap your mom's legs. She will have to keep the wraps on for X number of days until home health comes back and it is too hard to take off by yourself if she is old like me and unable to bend etc,. Or, you can take them off just before the home health nurse comes so she can take a shower. The other days, sponge bath.
2. If she is not very obese, Amazon sells wraps you can put onto her legs which massage her legs while she is sitting down or in bed,
3 . You can help her do leg exercises while she is sitting down or in bed if she can't walk.
4. I haven't found compression items yet that fit me and I can wear. The ones that say they are my size are so tight that they HURT a lot.

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My Mom hated the compression socks and truthfully, I'm not sure it was very effective for the amount of time it took to put it on and the moaning and complaining when she had it on (she could not take them off by herself).

PT came for a different reason and suggested that she use one of those exercycles. The type where you sit on the chair and pedal with your feet for under $50. No tension on the pedals, doesn't require a mileage tracker, and portable. I make her do it while I'm talking with her. She doesn't have to go fast, just slow and constant. Believe it or not, at first, she couldn't pedal in the same direction (it was brutal to watch). She worked her way up to a 25 minute stretch. Her legs felt better within days.

I took it with her when she went to MC and she didn't want it. However, she has no choice. She gets me to stay longer with her if she pedals. She gets me to stay longer if she cooperates with the exercises that I want her to do. However best of all, I see little bloating in her legs so it is more comfortable for her to walk.

After I read the other replies: Sitting on a chair and marching in place is good to get the blood moving also. It also has the added advantage of strengthening the upper leg muscles.

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So be it..............let go: set yourself free.

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Your expecting too much out of a woman who suffers from Dementia. Her short-term memory loss does not allow for her to remember from day to day, hour by hour, or minute by minute what you said to her. Her brain cannot process what you are trying to explain to her. She no longer understands.

When my sister had surgery they required her to wear compression socks to help prevent blood clots. They had the foot in them. My sister slept with her feet out from under the covers. As soon as she got home, she removed them.

I know, you want to do everything right for Mom. But there are times you just have to let things go.

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How about finding a game that is somewhat physical ex. Hokey pokey( put your left foot in, take your left foot out etc..) she can be seated or standing and when her meals are prepared tell her she has to come to the table ( the walk may not be far but at least she’s moving).
As I’ve always said and have been seeing more and more as I am aging as well “ once an adult, twice a child” sigh🙃
Learn to be creative and even tho she is in an adult body her mind may be reversing 💕 p. s. do your best to not let her know you’re treating her like your kid😊 Stay encouraged!!

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We gave up. Like you said, let nature take it's course. Pick your battles. Sometimes we just need to let go of one small battle in this caretaking war.

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You know they have those recliners that massages your body invest in one.

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Those stockings r tight as u know what. I tried them on and came right outta them. U should purchase a pair to get a feel just so u would know what mom is feeling . Right, let nature takes its course. U can’t force her. Just show her to exercise such as YouTube. If u could fine ppl with sliver hair doing it and she can do it in her chair. Show and tell maybe if ur home do it togother

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Physical therapist here. Sometimes, I recommend that the that the person use a rocking chair. It actually helps to exercise the legs when watching TV, etc. The only problem would be if the person is mobile and will be trying to get in and out of the chair. Many people find rocking soothing and they don’t know they are exercising their legs if they don’t want to do “exercises.”

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Well! I always suspected that generation of elders sitting in a rocking chair on a porch had it right!

Fresh air, nature within sight, people passing by so socialisation too.

Now I see it was also a calf & core workout. Very clever.

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There are devices like balloons that you put around the lower legs and they inflate and deflate like a massage, to help circulation. Speak to your mother's doctor about this. Medicare may pay for it.

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Tubigrips.

You can order them from Amazon at a fairly reasonable price. They're technically "compression bandages", not socks. They come in a roll; you cut off the length you need. They're open on both ends, so no sock to struggle with. Washing care is hand wash, drip dry.

My mom's wound doctor recommended them for her. They were so much easier to get on and off than compression socks.

They come in different sizes, so you'll have to do some research to find out which size she needs.

Good luck.

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Compression socks can be pretty brutal. When I had to wear them after surgery, it took at least one nurse or aide to get them on me. I was in decent physical condition, but not strong enough to wrestle those things on. If you got socks with light enough compression that they were less of a struggle, they would not be as effective, but they might ne better than nothing. If your mother is mostly sitting or lying around watching tv, have "exercise sessions" where she tenses up calves, flexes and points toes etc for a few minutes every hour to help circulation. You can also find devices that "pump" the lower legs to help circulation and reduce swelling.

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Compression socks are uncomfortable. Get pairs that have a little less compression than prescribed so they are easier to get on and off. Something is better than nothing. Also get her to do simple seated exercise that help increase circulation like ankle circles, toe and heel lifts, knee raises. I did all this for my Mom. and it helped a lot.

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I have a client 86 yrs old with mild dementia, congestive heart failure and AFIB, I was told by the physical therapist if, she doesn’t do the exercises described above have her sit on her chair get her walker or something to sturdy herself and get up and stand for however long she can and sit back down, if she can do this for 10 sets or if she can’t then gradually increase everyday. Also, I’ve been washing her feet for circulation. She tells me, my feet don’t stink (they do Lol) but, I tell her it’s for circulation. she complains but doesn’t mind wearing the compression socks. Good Luck.

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Weary, my dads cardiologist said to lay down for a half hour during the day and prop his feet above his heart to help keep the circulation going.

It really did help and I find it helps me to feel invigorated after I do it for my afternoon siesta;-)

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Thank you everyone. Mom has never ever worn socks in her life.
She used to live in India, in a region where it was always warm and she had no need for socks. The Dr prescribed it for poor circulation - her feet swells sometimes but lately it has not, thank God.

Mom has no interest in picking out socks/personalizing them.

I have to sit with her and get her to use the foot mover device. Maybe I will get this now on a rental basis.

Thanks again, dear Forumers.

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hug!! hope it goes well!! :)

yes, maybe you can really get rid of the compression socks. apparently very uncomfortable, even if it's the appropriate size. and sometimes, not really needed.

there are other solutions to try to get the swelling down.

great, your mother right now is not swollen.
:)

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My mother was prescribed compression socks and she never wore them once because no one could get them on her huge legs.

It is what it is. She has a right to live how she chooses even if it isn't the best thing for her health.

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Is it possible to have her pick out what style of sock she would like to wear? You did not mention if these were prescription socks. Otherwise, there are all kinds of great patterned socks-some geometric, floral or animals, Vermont Country Store has a nice selection. If she has to wear the plain Jane compression sock, then could she help personalize it with a couple of fabric markers? Make them more hers to wear.
I'd talk to her doctors about the walking, they might have some tips to help with that. I try to time walking with my husband when I know one of the neighbors is on the front porch, he likes to chat with them and it's a nice incentive to get him out. I used to take my Mom mall walking-right near the stores she liked, kept it short, simple and easy.

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Consider using Tubigrips for compression instead of socks? They're easier to put on and remove, and may be less uncomfortable.

--> If you decide to get these be sure they're the right size (diameter)!

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Ann already had my first thought! - are they fitted correctly for her?

What were they prescribed for, exactly?

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If she’s a “sitter”, could you borrow one of the stationary “foot mover” devices? They look really good to me.

They simulate a walking pace, and I think some may also have some sort of warming capacity- most circulatory issues cause cold extremities.

I’d try to rent or borrow one for a trial before purchasing but if it works you might be able to get her physician to recommend or even possibly write a prescription for one.

Compression socks can be tricky. I wore them for years, and learned that unless they are carefully fitted and used, they can be extremely uncomfortable. Your mom may be unable to tell you why she won’t wear them.

If her toes are comfortable, she may have decided that all compression hosiery is uncomfortable. Maybe see if you can find a toeless sock, if that’s the case.

All you can do IS ALL YOU CAN DO!

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"If she’s a “sitter”, could you borrow one of the stationary “foot mover” devices? They look really good to me."

hugs, annreid! :)
i agree! they look great to me! :)

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OP...i understand you're frustrated. hugs!! :)

in my case, i have the sweetest elderly LO in the world (i'm sure many of us do) -- always in a good mood (has always been this way), always cracking jokes. :)

however, my LO won't do anything unless we force it. the only way, is for us to say again and again, "do this, that, please."
then my LO does it. my LO isn't upset; just doesn't want to do anything.

we go through this almost daily.

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compression socks -- apparently even when they're the right size, they're very uncomfortable.

i understand OP you've tried again and again, to force your mother to elevate her feet, walk.

we do the same. and then my LO does it. my LO doesn't use compression socks.

hopefully your mother can manage without compression socks ---
(often they're not TOTALLY necessary).

let me add 1 thing.
swelling in feet, knees, etc...
that can have many causes.
you've checked the cause?

some causes are dangerous. some aren't.

my LO is very lucky: the cause isn't dangerous at all.

in any case, if there's liquid retention (for example daily swollen legs/feet), some people take diuretics (example: furosemide). dosage must be decided carefully by a doctor.
too much = many side-effects.
too little = not effective.

diuretics help do more pipi. this way, less urinary retention = less swelling of feet/legs.

our doctor (urologist) said 20 mg daily!
that's a HUGE amount for a slender elderly person.

i got a 2nd opinion.
new doctor (cardiologist) agreed, that's way too much. diuretics must be reduced slowly, not cold turkey: or else you'll get a big backlash, with a lot of swelling.

we managed to reduce it to only 10 mg, three times a week.
feet ok now.
and it's minimal medicine.

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of course, every case is different, and you must speak to a doctor. but who knows, maybe what i write helps someone.

hug!! :)

bundle of joy :)

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Does anyone else's mom refuse to wear compression socks?

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