I have many posts here from awhile back about my mother, 77. with osteoporosis, a back full of problems, post multi-level cervical spine fusion two years ago, poor balance, most (likely from her longtime neck problems), and being overmedicated. Oh and she's a hoarder. We had an incident on Easter weekend with her meds. She didn't sound right on the phone. I went to her house, found her on the floor, talking total nonsense and unable to get off the floor. I took video of her to show her so she couldn't deny she was in that condition. Husband and I sat with her for several hours, saw that her brain cleared up on it's own. She was fine and dandy the next day. I showed her the video, said she'd better figure out what she'd taken, and NEVER do it again... because the next time I would be forced to call EMS to at least get her up. She said "maybe she accidentally" took and extra.... something... Elavil, Norco... who knows. But anyway, she knows I am onto her. I also said I could get a home nurse to come set up her pill box. It's complicated because she does actually have real pain. Sigh. Anyway, she now wants out of her hoarded house. If she sold it she could at most afford a trailer house. She used to live in them and thinks it's the answer to all her problems. I believe we would work ourselves to death to get her moved and set up, and the place would be a pig pen in two months. I told her I can't see her having to get up and down stairs or even a ramp by herself. It's an accident waiting to happen. What say you all about this stairs issue?
Good to "see" you and sorry to see you also. To answer your question about stairs. I think your intuition is correct on that. Her ability and balance will only get worse over time not better. I agree the trailer is a deflection and pipe dream for her and won't solve any of the issues....
I'm sorry this is all happening...
There is always APS .
It could be a fix for the filth in the hoard.
I don't really think that the stairs are the issue, here, do you?
Your mother needs to be in care and management 24/7 so that her medications can be managed and so that hoarding and unsanitary and unsafe conditions can be prevented. Eventually APS may need to be contacted?
I gather that in normal circumstances your mother is NOT legally incompetent in her own decisions, so this isn't something you can force.
You are correct that this will come to a head.
Meanwhile have built a good set of stairs and siderails for the duration, I guess.
Perhaps you could help her get assistance to clean out her current hoard. Because she will just hoard the next place she lives.
My mom walked away from her hoarded house and bought a new travel trailer with 2 bedrooms, it was completely hoarded out when she passed 9 months later. Just sad. Totally expected though.
These situations are just hard. Prayers that you can help her find a way forward and not accidentally OD herself.
My mom was a prescription drug addict because of chronic pain and enjoyed being high, it is terrible to watch and not be able to really do anything. Great big warm hug!
Congrats to your Mom for wanting to leave her hoarded situation. However, I note the words were LEAVE it, not FIX it.
Unfortunately, the hoarding likely means that the interior of the home will be inaccessible in a short period of time no matter how easy it is to get to the front door.
Setting aside the hoarding issues she is accustomed to, trailer homes often have narrow interior doors and hallways; some also have odd interior thresholds and floor mounted HVAC vents that can be a trip hazard for the unwary. The homes in parks are subject to requirements as extensive or more so than any HOA and when it’s time to sell, the rent must be paid while it is vacant, and the commissions are often higher than expected.
I will wander further from your actual question and speculate that you are allowing her fantasy of buying a new house to escape the hoard to distract you from the immediate issue of her medication error, and any cognitive impairment that led to it. So, yes, I strongly agree that any similar incident needs an EMS call and further suggest a strong push for a a ER visit and a cognitive assessment.
You shouldn't be thinking that you can keep this up. I don't believe that her brain is permanently "cleared up." Sick brains don't do that permanently, and you may be thinking that she was that way because of the drugs she took, but you have no idea how often this happens or the extent of the problem. And even if you did, this is beyond the expertise of a family member.
Check out managed care and move her in where she'll have 24/7 care and be safer. You can get what you can for her house, but there is no point helping her buy a trailer because the same problems (and possibly worse!) will follow her there.
So sorry, I wish it were otherwise. But you must deal with what is happening, not what she insists SHOULD happen. She's not in her right mind, drugs are involved, and she shouldn't make decisions for herself.
Don't even think of moving her in with you! Even temporarily! You'd regret it in about 5 seconds.