I'm her primary caregiver and she has been taking falls steady for the last year. Every so often. Now it's like once monthly. She also has lung disease and on oxygen full time. It worries me and not sure how to deal with it. I'm praying it doesn't get to point that I have to place her in NH. But, her safety is my number one concern in the matter. Has anyone else experienced this? How did you deal with it? I'm making appointment next week for specialist. She exhibits many signs of Parkinson's. Appreciate any feedback or positive vibes! Thanks, Kelly
LO fell in her AL after living there about 3 months, I was notified within 20 minutes, she received Tylenol and stated that she had no pain, slept well, and was X-rayed the following morning.
She had fractured her clavicle, and wore a sling for 7 weeks, healed correctly, no problem.
In HER situation, the AL was the better choice for her, and she’s doing well there, with frequent visits and lots of staff love and encouragement.
I was an ABSOLUTELY CONFIRMED anti-NH advocate until I tearfully admitted that my sweet mom’s management was totally overwhelming even to an active and cooperative family team.
The last 5 1/2 years of her life were far happier and more comfortable than many years before them. Try to keep an open mind about ANY potential alternatives to her care, doing the best you can to find safe, comfortable, and content, whatever you (and she) decide.
If you DO decide to choose a residential care setting, the closer you are, the more comfortable you’ll be likely to feel. I LOVE the fact that I can run in and check on my LO several times a week. Our short visits are a joy for both of us!
Thanks for this candid and succinct statement summarizing the decision most of us ultimately are forced to make.
(BTW falls happen in nursing homes too)
(1) Most falls happen at night and near the bed. Get Mat alarms..when they step onto them it goes off. You can get them on amazon.
(2) keep hallways lit.
(3) lots of grab bars for walk-in showers. You need to get rid of the bathtub.
(4) fall mats near the bed.
(5) Get walkers with wheels.
(6) Get rid of throw rugs.
(7) ****Keep a bowel diary.**** If they still flush buy a flush lock to install on the toilet because you need to see their bowel movements and record it on your calendar. Why? Constipation feels uncomfortable so they will wander trying to find relief. They can get impacted as little as 2 days. If they get impacted you need to take them to the Emergency Room where a nurse will disimpact them and give them enemas. NOBODY will talk to you about bowels but the stress of caregiving -- over 90% of it has to do with their bowels. The older they get the worse their bowel function becomes.
Most people with Alzheimer's will die due to either falls or pneumonia.
Elders fall.
Regardless, of the measures you take to prevent falls, it's unlikely that you can prevent them, unless you are standing by her side all the time. I once caught my LO from falling as she tried to walk around her walker. She went straight back and would have hit the floor had I not caught her. There was no reason for her to have turned loose of her walker. Her brain just wasn't working properly. Her falls were actually 100% due to loss of balance. And, if she had been holding on to the walker, as she was supposed to be, she would not have fallen, but, she forgot to use her walker due to dementia, so no amount of reminding, notes, etc. helped. The only thing that worked was supervising her constantly, so that if she got up, you told her to grab her walker and you watched to ensure that she didn't let go of it. Otherwise, she would forget. But, that's not practical, so they forget, they fall and they get the fractures.
I might discuss her falls with the doctor you are going to see. Is this the same one who diagnosed her with dementia 6 years ago? You say that she's thinking clearly, but, if she is falling and not using the walker, I would consider that she is progressing in the dementia, since she's not using proper judgment. Or she's just forgetting. Either way, it's not likely to improve. I'd explore the options if you cannot handle her fulltime care. Soon after my LO's falls, she went to a wheelchair and that did slow the falls down, but, you would still need to know how to do transfers inside the home 24/7 and she could not be left alone if wheelchair bound. If she were to fall, you could call 911 to help get her up.
I hope you find the answers you need.
If your mother will use one of the walkers with rollers while moving through the house that may help reduce the falls. My mom can use the older model where when she presses down springs let the posts touch the floor and stop the walker. My brother purchased one of the new rollator walkers but mom doesn't like having to use the "brakes" to stop it from rolling.
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