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My grandpa keeps falling on this blanket and I’m nervous it’s going to get worse. We had to go to the ER last week and they found a small brain bleed from a recent fall. My mom and I have put notes on everything, moved tables, but he keeps falling. He usually lives with my parents but this month he is living alone but I go over all the time.

He shouldn’t be living alone. He has dementia and isn’t able to understand or remember what you’re telling him about the blanket. You’ve already seen evidence of that. I’m very sorry.
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Reply to Fawnby
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Speckofdust Sep 6, 2024
I am looking for a temporary solution, we understand he shouldn’t be living alone.
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I guess I want to ask you what you know about Dementia.

As a quick (& sorry, blunt) guide;
. People with dementia mostly cannot live alone safely
. Dementia can alter vision processing
. Dementia can rob someone of reading ability &/or comprehension
. Dementia causes falls
. Dementia is a life-limiting condition.
. It is progressive ie it will keep getting worse.

Writing notes will be useless. Supervision & assistance by a caregiver is required to reduce falls.
(Note: Reduce. Not prevent).
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Reply to Beatty
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Mimsy1 Sep 13, 2024
I like how you say alter vision processing, recently the news is saying that poor vision is a sign of Dementia, (that's a scary statement). Aging causes vision problems. I appreciate all your input!
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Sorry, but your dad needs assisted living. His dementia is going to get worse. I went through this with my mom. I had to obtain guardianship. Your dad is a fall risk and needs 24 hour supervision.
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Reply to Onlychild2024
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Since people with dementia cannot retain anything or adjust to changes, you will need to devise a way to secure the blanket to wherever he is using it so it cannot fall on the floor. Is it something from his bed? Or using in a chair?
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Reply to Geaton777
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From experience, most of us find that our LO can't remember anything any longer. Notes don't work any longer. We all try the note thing- and it works for a while... but... then it too stops working. That part of the brain is gone. Could it be somehow attached to the bed or chair? Amazing that he's been able to function alone- you'll probably have to face getting someone to live there 24-7 or at least most of the day... This is so brutal and the learning curve is steep. Wishing you strength.
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Reply to Calliesma
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Your grandpa's brain is now permanently broken, so expecting him to read your notes and understand them is a mute point.
People with dementia fall...a lot, lose their ability to read and comprehend not only the written word but spoken word as well, and should NOT be living by themselves.
You say in one of your responses below that you are looking for a "temporary solution" for your grandpa, but you need to be looking into a permanent solution instead. Somewhere where he will receive the 24/7 care he now requires.
And that just may mean placing him in a memory care facility as he will only continue to get worse, and it will be too much for your parents and yourself to deal with.
So I wish you and your family the very best in finding the right facility to place grandpa in, where you all can get back to just being his loving family and advocates, and not his burned out caregivers.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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Igloocar Sep 14, 2024
I think speckofdust means that she is looking for a temporary solution to the falling-on-blanket problem until the family determines how they plan to change his living situation so he won't be living alone. I wouldn't bring up this point, except we've been admonishing speckofdust about her grandfather's living alone. From what she has written recently, she understood that prior to writing us, so for this very moment needs our help only to solve the blanket issue.
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Grandfather is no longer safe alone.
I would call APS to get a case opened. It is sounding like grandfather needs placement.
There are simple blanket fasteners for beds, but that's really not the issue here anymore. Granddad isn't safe alone at home.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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KPWCSC Sep 13, 2024
No disrespect intended, but I would never call APS on a relative unless the family can not find a workable solution or the LO refuses to cooperate. Placement is not even necessary if 24/7 supervision can be provided for him by family and/or caregivers.
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Time for your grandpa to move to permanent memory care.
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Reply to Patathome01
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Maybe not great idea but you can buy bed sheet clips /ned sheet fasteners
they’re like clips attached to elastic and say can clip bottom of sheet under the mattress so that at least the bottom of the blanket remains
he can then pull off the bjs let and if would be fastened at the bottom so will remain on The bed still
Google and you will see what I mean it will be self explanatory once u see a picture
I use them on my fathers bed
to keep his flat sheet on the bed so it can be used fir the blanket as well
at the bottom of bed area to allow movement still to get in and out if the bed
google them as my explanation may not be too clear
good luck
also maybe a three leg walking stick for him to steady himself as he gets up ? I leave one of those by my fathers bed and he uses it to steady himself
it works well
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Reply to Jenny10
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get him a wearable blanket, like a snuggy or one of those oversized hoody things. They come down to just past your knees when standing and are super cozy and comforting. He probably holds on to the blanket because it is comforting. I have one of the hoodies.. they are the best!!
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Reply to FarFarAway
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