She has come to the point where she sits in her room and doesn't do anything. No TV radio magazines etc. she just sits there all day long. I have purchased a transport chair to use when I take her out of the facility because she can't walk to the car and certainly can't walk into a restaurant etc. Prior to being in the ALF she was in the hospital (for a broken foot) and then rehab where she used a wheelchair and got around fine. I want the doctor to order a chair for her in the hopes that it would encourage her to get out of her room. The doctor does not want her to use a wheelchair because of the complications that occur (urinary infections, etc) associated with wheelchair use. I understand his point of view because she is incontinent now. However, I am not sure that she is actually incontinent or if she just can't make it to the bathroom with her bad legs. I am considering just buying the chair anyway because when she really wants to she gets into the transport chair and screams for the aids to "take me to dinner, I can't walk" ........The Director says that she is getting very nasty with the staff and wants me to consider putting her in the Dementia section of the home. i really don't feel that she is ready for this. I personally think that a lot of this is just her personality....She had always felt entitled and been demanding and they now are really seeing the "true" mom I am considering just buying a wheelchair on my own to see if that helps. I'm afraid that if I call the doctor AGAIN that he will call the director and get the aides in trouble. They have been very good with her tantrums and I don't want to cause problems for them.
They go beyond the call for her for which I am very grateful. I know this would be going against the Dr. but I feel that I know her better than anyone else and he only has seen her a few times. She is depressed and agitated because she can't get around. She has always been very inactive to begin with, So my question is do I get the chair? Is she better off sitting in the wheelchair and possibly getting around or do I just let her sit on the couch all day?