I don't think mom will ever walk again, or will she?

Bribing, cajoling, none of that works. Her dementia keeps her from comprehending or understanding the consequences. I suggest you call hospice and ask for an evaluation, which might give you clues as to what to expect.

Dementia is not the same in everyone. As much as we would like to see into the future there are always surprises. Overall your mom has been in decline and eventually her time will come.
DH aunt,96, goes back on hospice tomorrow. She has been on rehab since the week after thanksgiving. She has been increasingly bed-bound for the last year. She had speech, ot and pt. Complaining bitterly about each.
Amazingly I received a text from her therapist one day saying she was on the parallel bars with an excellent attitude. Most days she totally refused, said she would get up when she wanted to.
For her, the best part of going back on hospice is her long time CNA (with hospice) will be back. This CNA gets her out of bed for a shower and will then have her up in her wheelchair for a good portion of the day. Lying in bed all day leaves her more susceptible for pneumonia and bedsores. So I’m hoping she will return to that routine of sitting up but after having been separated from her CNA for so long, hard to know.

On the other hand, my 87 yr old uncle, fell in late October. His hospice nurse was visiting when he threw up blood and the nurse encouraged my cousin to take him to the ER. Over the next two months he was in three hospitals, a rehab and then a private care home. Cousin was not able to handle him alone anymore and needed help. She would pick him up and take him to the senior center he enjoyed going to for lunch. He seemed to be doing well. He was sitting holding hands with a lady friend at the senior center on Friday, the 16th. They made a date for her to come play cards on the next Monday. The following day after having a good breakfast and lunch, he was taking a nap. The aide went in to change him and as she was helping him turn over, the aide heard a soft gasp and he was gone.
We can’t help but wonder how long they will live and probably the most accurate answer in the big picture is … not long…but in the moment we have to take one day at a time.

Thank you Sadinroanokeva (Im sad too), ZippyZee, 97yroldmom, Lealonnie1, Fawnby for sharing your thoughts and experiences.....I will draw strength from all you courageous and patient caregivers as this horrible journey worsens. In my diary, I've highlighted the last day mom walked and it just kills me to see that.

Anyway, I will ask the Dr to write a script for home hospice then - the hospital nurse practitioner at the hospital said won't qualify for hospital hospice since mom's vital signs are ok. I'm going to increase aide help for another 2 hoursr/day who will move her from the hospital bed to wheelchair & back. I cannot afford more aide help/facility since Mom won't qualify for Medicare/Medicaid for another 2 years.

((hugs))
This is a place she was going to reach sooner or later even without all the things that have zapped her strength, and I am doubtful that she can ever regain her ability to walk again after so much time has passed. Rather than pushing rehab exercises to keep her walking I would focus instead on her being able to at least bear weight long enough to stand and pivot; this will allow you to get her into a wheelchair, onto the commode/toilet and onto a transfer bench for showers. Just getting her up and moving every day will greatly increase her quality of life and reduce the care burden.

Sounds like it's nursing home time.

Yes bedridden is most likely what is ahead. There is evidence that after a hip break/repair most advanced elderly live less than 5 years. Sad but true. So sorry…perhaps a facility makes sense now.

After dad broke his hip at 90, it was repaired in the hospital (not replaced), and he went to rehab but made little progress in walking again. He too went into a wheelchair afterward and never really walked again, but stayed OUT of bed. He did pass 10 months later; turned out, he had a brain tumor that was causing his issues and inability to walk, and that's what led to his death. It showed up on an MRI when he'd fallen and broken his hip originally b/c he'd also hit his head so they did a head MRI too.

Home hospice sounds like a good idea Weary. Sending you a hug and a prayer for strength & peace as you walk this journey with mom.

Weary, consider asking for a hospice evaluation.

It seems possible that mom's latest fall might have also involved a stroke. Even if an initial CAT scan or MRI was done at the time and showed nothing, our experience was that sometimes evidence of a strokes shows up later.

Do you have a wheelchair for mom?

Hi Weary, So sorry about Mom. I think Mom has had a lot happen to her in a short time. Pneumonia is serious in the elderly as is a broken hip. Her going under for the surgery can have longterm effects. Both the Pneumonia and the anesthetic will effect her dementia. She just has a lot going on. I agree, I would get a Hospice consult. If they feel its not needed at this point, see if you can get in home therapy.

Enjoy your Holiday with your family.

It can be really hard to get a dementia patient to toe the line with PT and/or to realize the importance of staying mobile and out of bed. My mom went into a wheelchair after a hospitalization with pneumonia at which time her dementia worsened as well. It was bad neuropathy that forced her into a wheelchair that I was able to ward off for as long as possible. Once she went into the wheelchair, she refused pt from then on and made excuses for why she was too tired or couldn't do it. Nothing would sway her, either, so we gave up.

I'd say you should insist mom at least get into a wheel chair and use her arms and legs to propel herself around, if such a thing is possible in your home. Keep her out of bed during the day and for meals, etc. The likelihood of her living with dementia for 10 more years is slim, especially if it's vascular dementia which has about a 5 yr life expectancy to it. My mother lasted about 6 yrs after she was diagnosed, but she had dementia a couple yrs before then. Your mother seems to be on a downward spiral lately, which also happens sometimes with dementia, so that can signal her life expectancy is shorter than you realize. Mom was on a pretty steep downward spiral for a year before she passed. I'm not sure if your mom is Medicare approved yet, but if so, look into a hospice evaluation now.

I know how difficult this journey truly is, and the wondering what's coming next is so hard. My heart hurts for all you've been thru and have yet to endure. Stay connected to support, get rest and respite as you can, and stay strong. All the best of luck.