My 85-year-old father lives with me and receives 17 hours a week of care providing services from the state. He is getting to a point now where he is falling more often (2 days in a row) to include 3x in 1 month, Smaller appetite and frequent accidents not being able to reach bathroom in time. I’m in the process of requesting a social worker to come and reassess him so that we can get some more care providing hours. God forbid if he ever gets to a point where he cannot get up and walk on his own...what can I do? I’m only 5”1 and 150 pounds, no husband, my sons are out of state, and I suffer from cervical spine and back issues that are documented by my neurosurgeon and pain management doctor. Would I take him to the ER? It’s been almost 2 days and I haven’t heard anything from his case worker and here we are on a Saturday. I work and am unable to as long as my dad can’t get around. Please help me figure out what I can do? By the way my dad has no long-term insurance and only receives Social Security and a very small pension.
If your dad is a Veteran the VA might also be able to help. At least with supplies and even possibly equipment.
Ans depending on where and when he served some of his medical conditions may be linked to his service and with what would be classified as a "service connected disability" he may get even more aid. Definitely something to look into.
There is equipment that can help you transfer him if he has strength to grasp. A "Sit to Stand" was a great help for me when I was caring for my Husband. Later we switched to a Hoyer Lift.
I would keep calling the Social Worker, if after a while you get no response from then ask to talk to a supervisor.
If there is a fall and he is not hurt you can call local 911 and ask for a "Lift Assist" they will come and help him up and into a chair or bed. If he is not hurt they will not take him to the hospital. (Typically there is not a charge if there is no transport to the hospital)
Paramedics are trained to help someone up so they do not get hurt and the person they are helping does not get hurt.
And just a thought you might want to call a local Hospice to see if he would qualify for Hospice you would get quite a bit of help from Hospice as well and the supplies and equipment that you will need.
But again if he is a Veteran please look into the VA for help