Mom (90) does not want to use cane. Any advice?

My 91 y.o. MIL wouldn't use a cane initially either (she has since progressed to a 2W walker) so I found an attractive umbrella (standard sized) with the traditional curved handle and put a cane tip on the pointed tip. It worked for a long while and she didn't feel it was a conspicuous as a cane. She, too, didn't want to appear to be "old".

A lot of great tips above! As an OT I see this all the time. That is one reason I started my store, Ease Living, to provide beautiful products that promote dignity, independence and safety.
My grandmother died in her mid 90s and refused to wear GLASSES because she thought it made her look old! I've had glasses since I was 6!!

We started with a standard cane. She hated it, but we reminded her every single time she got up. It was always falling over or she couldn't rememeber where she left it. So we bought her a cane with the legs so it would stand on its own. Once she started tripping on it and using it wrong, it became dangerous. We hid the cane and introduced her to a walker with wheels. We just tell her she has to use it. She has fallen, luckily on carpet, so we just remind her that she has fallen and she has to use it because we dont want her in the hospital. It is just a constant reminder.

Try one of the pretty canes that have hummingbirds or flowers all over them. Make sure it is adjusted correctly to her height.

You can get spiked tips to put on canes to use on ice. I don't mind using my cane it gives me something to trip up other old ladies when they try to push in line at the grocery store.

Ask her doctor to order a PT evaluation to assess if she should be using a cane.

My dad fell and the doctor in the emergency room sent us home with a quad cane. My dad did not want to look at it, no less use it. He gave me a dirty look every time I asked him where was his cane and why wasn't he using it. Then I got the idea to give the cane the name Gus. I would say to my dad, "where's your friend Gus?" and "you need your friend" and somehow my dad started to use the cane. It probably took about 2 weeks of encouragement on my part and now over 2 years later he still uses the same cane.

My Mom will not use any of the canes we have for her. I am still trying to figure out how to get her to use it. The more I suggest it, but more she resists. I tried using a cane myself so she would not feel so out of place but it started to mess up my leg muscles! Sympathy and stories are great but any Advice?

My mother is 100. Last year we finally got her to use a cane only because she absolutely refuses to use a walker. She has fallen a few times. She lives in AL and they want her to use a walker, but she won't. She tries to go up and down the stairs with the cane. It scares us half to death. She doesn't even use the cane the right way. But she is stubborn, she won't listen to anyone, ever. So, eventually she will fall and end her life bedridden with a broken hip and there is nothing we can do.

Parkinsons, numerous strokes and dementia over the years. When I moved to care for her I got her a wheeled walker but she refused to use it in the house, just hung onto the walls and furniture. Constantly finding her on the floor I eventually could hardly leave the house ... apart from cooking, cleaning, fending off her abuse and calling the ambulance my life was over.

UGH I hear you. Mom landed in the ER 7 times in 2014 for falls. I finally confiscated her cane and left her with only the walker her MD said she was supposed to use. She was angry, but you can't give in on safety issues.

My Mom was resistant to using a cane, too.... heaven forbid if someone saw her using a cane, they might think she was old [she's 97]. No matter how old a person gets, they are still self-conscience about how they are portrayed to others. Usually it takes a person getting hurt in a fall to convince them to use either a cane or rolling walker.

By the way, a cane is terrible on ice.... she being 90 and needing something to help her walk, it is better she stay indoors until the weather get better. If she needs to get out and about, have someone meet her at her home to help her on the snowy icy walkways.