Best way to watch over an elderly parent?

There is a gait disturbance in cases of Parkinson's. If your mother is unable to slow down and walks fast, it may be festination. The patient is propelled forward,  irresistibly impelled to make much quicker and short steps, and thereby to adopt unwillingly a running pace.

Have her gait diagnosed.

Maybe one of these?
Www.Shesbirdie.com

Thank you for all for the replies. I think we've narrowed it down to 2 or so monitors and will decide before too long. Luckily we've finally gotten through to her to slow down and she's been much more careful and deliberate walking lately. I think the falling was age related, meaning because of her age she was more easily distracted and therefore not watching where she's going as much, but I could be wrong. Thanks again for the input, it is appreciated.

One hard lesson to accept...Falls happen
There are things that can be done to help minimize the falls.
Using a walker PROPERLY and EACH time it is needed.
Moving clutter that can be a trip hazard
Removing carpet and area rugs.

Sit down and have a conversation with mom. Something like this.
Mom, we are concerned that you have fallen a few times in the past months.
Can we ask the doctor to order an assessment by a physical therapist so that we can minimize the risk?
Mom, because of the falls you have had, luckily none were serious where you were hurt but that might happen. We need to know what you want to happen IF we find that you have fallen and we need to call 911. Do you want surgery and go to rehab? Who can make that decision for you if you can not make it yourself? We need to get those papers signed so that legally (you or sis) can make decisions. Do you want CPR? Do you want a feeding tube? Do you want to be intubated?
Hard discussion I know but this might jolt her into realizing that a fall can be very serious and life changing if not life ending.
And her doctor needs to be made aware of the number of falls she has had.

Our LO was falling regularly and either couldn't reach her cell phone, didn't have it with her or couldn't remember how to call on it. We suggested a medic button and it was refused -- until later in her journey. Side note: she even forgot to push it. Anyhow... when I couldn't take anymore of her screaming in the early morning hours trying to wake me in the next room after she'd fallen out if bed, I went to Home Depot and got a wireless door alarm with two push buttons and an extra third programed to the same frequency. Temp mounted the main unit in the hallway and left one push button on her nightstand (reachable from the floor) and sticky taped one to her cane and one on her walker. Couldn't prevent the falls but from anywhere in the house she could and did use it to call for help getting up.

Agree there are numerous reasons to WHY someone falls. If some obvious reasons can be found, work on those first.

Falls prevention strategies are about removing or minimising the risks you can & adding in safety features.

A starting point can be;

* medical check for BP + help identify any other medical reason for falls
* PT assessment + balance exercises, possible walking aide

Around the home;
* removing risky footwear
* removing rugs that slip
* consider an OT home visit/assessment for grab bars or other handles near toilet

I just must mention a friend's elderly Mother, a leopard print lovin', high heeled fluffy slipper wearing glamour-gal 😜. Eventually accepted the change to flat footwear..

I mention that as it's best if Mom is part of her own fall prevention plan. If people don't agree, they can rebel. Ignore the walking stick, ignore the handrails, step over the fall alarm mat & cause themselves more harm.

I think the life alert type that you describe is probably one of the best solutions. My mom lives with me and when/if she starts falling or is at more risk to do so, this is what I plan on doing. Even if someone is in the house with your mom, someone will not be with her 24/7. How about at night? I think of my mom getting up to use the bathroom multiple times a night. If she fell I would not know until the morning.

My mother fell repeatedly and sometimes with us sitting right across from her. The reasons for falling are many and diverse. Watching over her isn't going to make that much difference in preventing falls. Just a difference in response time.

My Mom lives next door to me and after her fall she was able to call me on her flip phone, which I've "trained" her to keep on her at all times. I realize this isn't a perfect system if she ever lost consciousness but I check on her several times a day. I don't know what system, other than cameras, would work for you. FYI if you are her PoA I personally would not wait for her to agree to a safety solution that is reasonable. I think cameras, applied per your state's laws, are reasonable. Also, sound-only baby monitors are very inexpensive and many people use them.

I'm also commenting on your perception that your mom is falling because "she's more distracted now and has fallen 3 times in the last 6 months."

Seniors begin falling for many reasons:
- they start to shuffle more (shuffling is not only a result of losing strength and increased stiffness but a certain type of shuffle can also can be a symptom of dementia)
- they lose their balance due to inner ear problems, vertigo, infection, etc.
- blood pressure issues that cause light-headedness
- items on the floor that are now tripping dangers, like throw rugs, high thresholds, etc..;
- types of shoeware that are less appropriate for seniors

Not an exhaustive list. Sometimes seniors fall due to impaired cognition and memory (they don't recognize their limitations or forget they have them). I'm not sure what "distracted" means in your Mom's instance.

My 92-yr old Mother fell in her home for 2nd time just last week. She blamed it on her slippers but I wasn't there when it happened so can't know for sure. We changed her footwear as a solution.