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96 YO Mother fall questions

Posted by woojr @woojr, Jan 12 12:28pm

Hello and thank you for reading this message. Mom is in unusually good shape for her age. She's had a few falls over the last five years but has been very fortunate to really only have had some stitches and a couple bruises. She has started to walk with a cane but mostly walks around the house holding on to furniture, walls etc. Most of the house (she lives alone in her home), has no steps or tripping hazards. She stills drives regularly to PT, hairdresser and local store. She's been taking supplements for decades and takes BP and Thyroid meds for about ten years. She has a pacemaker. She cooks and eats a healthy diet. She had a minor stroke over ten years ago with no after effects. She's recently had issues with itching and dry skin and scalp. All in all she's amazing. A couple days ago she called and asked my wife and I to come help her get up from a fall in her kitchen.
We found her sitting on a hard tiled floor without any apparent injuries. There was a chair knocked over and some other things on the floor as she appeared to have been reaching for things. She weighs 97 lbs and it took all had to get her up without hurting her. I asked her what happened and she said she was standing at the table reading the mail and suddenly lost her balance and went straight down without hitting her head or anything else but she couldn't pick her self up. Most of the house is carpeted and a lot has throw rugs. She refuses to remove them. I think she likes the extra padding because she's fallen without having to tell us. I took the opportunity to address a number of falling while alone issues for the hundredth time. In the past I've noticed her balance has been getting worse and she refuses to use on of the several walkers around the house. I could go on about her risky lifestyle but why? Any suggestions to get her to carry one of the many phones at all times? And when should she be in assisted living before she falls and can't get up until I discover her unable to call for help?
Thanks again for reading.

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grannytrucker | @grannytrucker | May 15 8:04pm
In reply to @celia16 "Once falls begin…..they usually continue and increase in frequency. She probably can’t remember to use a..." + (show)
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Once falls begin…..they usually continue and increase in frequency. She probably can’t remember to use a walker or cane and even if she did…..it might not prevent a fall. Assisted Living can’t prevent the falls either, but they can be on hand to immediately assist in her aid if she’s injured or can’t get up.

Several months ago my mom lost her balance and even though standing right at her walker fell onto her side, breaking her right arm, cutting her head, injuring her knee and ankle….(We feel fortunate it wasn’t her hip, because that’s a much harder recovery.) She wasn’t able to move at all. The phone was out of her reach to call 911 or anyone. If I had not been there, she would have laid on the floor indefinitely. She was so scared, I think she might have suffered a cardiac event if she had no help for hours. Keeping the phone within reach 24/7 might not be feasible. I have also heard of seniors who fall who just can’t call for help even if the phone is nearby. Have you checked into Life Alert?

These and other reasons are why imo it’s good to have someone around at all times with a senior who is that advanced in age and who suffers with poor balance and falls. Being more careful usually doesn’t help.

I’d be inclined to stop the driving. A loss of balance while driving could be devastating.

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@celia16
Think my mother-in-law had a Life Alert around her neck with some kind of button to push in case of emergency. Luckily her daughter called her every single day at 10 a.m. When she didn't answer (the landline), the daughter got concerned and sent a granddaughter over to check on her. She had fallen getting out of bed in the middle of the night. When they found her, she was still wearing the alarm around her neck unused.
My mom is 96. She will probably outlive me. We took the car away from her, in her 80's. Mom uses a cane when we take her to the store. Took the gas stove away a couple years ago when she left the gas on. In her defense though, the printing on the knobs is worn off. (I have to be careful that it gets turned off correctly.) Between my sister and I, we don't leave mom unsupervised. But it is a blessing that we are able to be here for her. We took care of our dad at home too. He wouldn't have been able to fend for himself at the nursing homes or the hospital during his last few years. So, my mom and sister would be with him during the day, and I would be with him at night. We finally had them stabilize him at the hospital and then send him home with us. It was much more comfortable for him and us. If she remains in the home, I think your mom would have easier access to a monitored alarm on her wrist or
neck. Most people, including me, do not take their phone everywhere. But like the other person mentioned, check out the safety, monitoring capabilities, and cost of any device. Maybe ask her daily to tell you what she needs to do in case of a fall.

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