How do I help my mom with her fear of falling, she is terrified to sit on a chair or in the car?

Pat well done, that's how they they showed mom in rehab to get up if she fell, to crawl to a chair and use it to get up. I have a totally opposite problem, Mom doesn't remember what they taught her and she has no fear. I'm more worried about her falling than she is. She did have fall a few months ago, twice in one night, we have an intercom between our rooms but she doesn't remember to use it. The first fall was next to her bed and I was able to leverage her up, the second has in her bathroom, she had taken the walker in with her but set it aside, then tried to use one side of it and it tipped and down she went. I couldn't left her up and helped her to her knees to crawled to the toilet to pull herself up. Luckily she didn't break anything, but she didn't remember falling twice. Doctor put her on the Exelon patch, but it doesn't seem to be working.

Pat, what a wonderful idea. Sometimes we need to figure out new ways of doing things. You gave a wonderful gift of confidence. Now she know she can do it.

My mom was petrified of falling and eventually did and broke her hip. I think the meds she was on caused her to be unbalanced. After that she was terrified even more of falling and would almost go into convulsions when the staff tried to stand her up. I understand fear of falling is the number one fear of elderly in nursing homes. Wish I had known that at the time.. I would have been more loving and patient with her. Talk to her doctor and get advice. This is a common problem. It may take baby steps for her.. get her to just get up for one minute then sit down, then 2 minutes. Can't blame her for feeling this way. She knows it is a good chance she will fall if she is up too much. Thats why they use those walkers.. for balance and confidence. Best to you.
Nancy

My mom is terrified of falling too. One night before my husband and I went out, she was complaining about us leaving asking what would happen if she fell. I asked her to/made her (?) get down on the floor. She just slid off of the sofa onto the floor. Then I asked her to get up. She immediately said she couldn't, but I didn't offer to help. She continued to say she couldn't do it...as she did it! She used the coffee table and the sofa and sort of crawled up onto the sofa. It wasn't easy and she didn't like it. But she was kind of pleased with herself when she did get up.

I agree with Bobbi, start with her doctor. If it's not an imbalance, it could be lack of strength or not knowing how to move around safely. Her doctor could prescribe physical and or occupational therapists to come to her.

To umpymom Is this a sudden development? I would suggest that she be seen by a physician. There might be something going on that is throwing her sense of balance off.

my step mom did that . was afraid to put her 2 feets on the floor . it took 2 cna to lift her up and put her in wheelchair , she lived 6 mos and passed away . she cracked her tailbone and her alz got worst too . didnt live too long after all that happen .
sometimes my dad s legs would bounce around like he s forgotten how to keep his 2 feet on the floor . when he did that i tol dhim he s staying in bed . so he stayed in bed , id change him and clean him while he stayed in bed .
till he gain his strength to trust his legs . cuz i am the only one that cares for him etc . when his legs calms then i would get him out of bed and slide him over to wheelchair .
if theyre scared then keep them in bed .

I don't have an answer but my Mom is just terrified of falling in general. She broke her hip last year and is so afraid she will fall again. I don't know how to comfort her. Would be interested in what others have to say. To make it worse both of her sisters have fallen and broken their hips twice.