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Moms legs are getting weaker and I'm thinking she may need a wc to get around in her very small area.

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You should have your mom see a physical therapist and occupational therapist to determine the best wheelchair solution.
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You may be at a crossroads where her walking mobility is waning and her risk for falls will be greater. My mother went from one day using her rollator to the next unable to get up out of a chair. That set the stage for her becoming bedridden. My family saw it coming as we watched her struggle more and more to get up. But, she was determined and kept getting it done until she was 94. We had to accept her new limitations and adapt. Even if physical therapy had restored her ability to use her rollator her change in strength would have made her a huge fall risk.

What is worse - being somewhat bedridden or trying to walk in a weakened state and breaking a hip? I say “somewhat” because she still exercises her arms and legs and did a month of PT in bed to keep her abdominal muscles strong enough to sit up a little when pillows or bed linens are being adjusted. She assists by rolling and grabbing the bed rails during changes. She sings songs in bed and makes her own choreography which I sometimes do with her. Most of all - she does NOT spend the whole day in bed. We get her up in a upholstered chair with armrests almost every day for a few hours. We use a Hoyer lift with a cloth sling. She was terrified of it at first but now looks forward to it. I sometimes use the Hoyer to place her in a full size wheelchair so we can go outside on nice days and walk up and down the driveway and front walk outside. We have a ramp to get her out of the house to the garage and out the garage door. A yoga teaching friend of mine works with her for free inside the house in the chair and in bed. She doesn’t do any “downward dogs” but she enjoys doing what she can. We pass a ball back and forth and do anything else we can think of to keep her moving. We will keep doing these things until she can’t or doesn’t want to. At that point she will truly be “bedridden” and probably not long for this world. I do have to do a lot of caretaking because she cannot get to the bathroom and has to be changed in bed. That is another subject, but even that can be made into a routine that gets easier once you find the things you need to make it so. I have help coming in during the week for a few hours every day. I take most weekends. No sisters - so it is me or a nursing home. Home care is our choice for now.

There is one mobility skill that my mother cannot do that is worth preserving if you can. That is the ability to stand and pivot to a wheelchair and chair. Even if she can’t walk, the ability to stand and pivot with assistance is valuable. However, it does present a transfer risk for falling if improperly done. Have a PT specialist train you both before doing. Best of luck.
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RedVanAnnie Aug 2021
I love that your mother sings songs and makes up choreography for her exercises! She sounds delightful. Your accommodations to her changing abilities are spot on.
Good advice, too, about not forcing more mobility than is safe for the person with weakness and instability. This should always be considered when choosing devices to assist mobility.
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My Mom is in an older home, so doorways are small. She uses a transport wheelchair. I bought her a comfortable cushion and arm rest covers from Amazon.
When someone is there, we push her. When she's alone, she uses her feet to scoot herself around quite effectively.
Best wishes.
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My bother bought a transport wheel chair for Dad. A couple thoughts from him, it is designed to be pushed, not for the seated person to propel themselves. It is not comfortable on cracked or lumpy sidewalks.

If your Mum is weak she may not have any strength to propel herself.

My brother is looking at getting Dad a Rollator, because of the seat. Dad is using a walker now, but his legs are very weak and he runs out of energy quickly a seat is needed.
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hallah Jul 2021
Tothill, my wife has a Rollator. The wheels make it easy to move around and the seat comes in handy. In fact I sit on it at my wife’s doctor appointments while she sits in their chair. :>)
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We bought a KARMA wheelchair for my 98 yo Mom and weighs 95 pounds.
It’s small scale, comfortable, easy to push with shock absorbing wheels, folds up easily and fits into a car or taxi.
We have the ERGO-lite series.
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Wheelchairs should sized to the person who will be using it. If the chair is to small or too big, it can create discomfort and even sores.
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If hallways are narrow that is a problem but for doorways you can have the hinges replaced with ones that will allow full swing opening. They are called Offset hinges or Swing Clear hinges. Most Big Box Hardware Stores will have them .
If she needs a wheelchair have her doctor order one. The smaller transport chairs are easier to get around they are lighter to pick up as well. The question is though how weak is she getting will she be able to push herself in a wheelchair?
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Got my mom a rollator till her legs got weaker. The seat w/ small compartment under neath is just right. However, she used to bend over as she walked, rather than stand upright to walk. (Teepa Snow says they're watching their feet) & it became hard on her wrists & back. Recently transitioned my mom to a transport chair, lighter than WC & easy to fold in the trunk.
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We had a child size wheelchair at work that was donated. The person who borrowed it had a mother who only weighted 100 lbs and she was short. Was perfect for her.

Regular wheelchairs are 18in wide. Go to a Durable equipment store. They can help you pick the right one.
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Exercise her every single day. I took my mom to the park everyday same time and same place for 5 years and she was only bedridden for a few months before she died. I had to end up getting an upright speciality walker but she loved it. Fight to keep her mobility because once you lose that her care will be much more difficult. Imagine trying to move her bowels while bedridden including enemas. That is what bedridden is all about.

Keep her moving! Wheelchairs are horrible. They slide in them and lean.
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