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Mother (91) has three walking canes and a walker for outside. I recenty secured her an Acorn Stairlift also as the house she has lived in since late 1950s is a two story with basement. I agree with her Dr. that the walker will make her lazier in the house. She has a new apppointment soon. Suffers with Dementia which I hotice is worsening yearly a little bit - or a lot depending upon whay activity we are tying to do...the telephone is challenging now, for example - but only for business tasks. With her family and friends she can navigate it easier. What doies the communithy think? She has a home attendant with Guild Net, by the way...only 20 hours a week until I marry and move out in two months.

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Make her lazy?! She's 91! I don't mean to be rude but what am I missing here?

Lots and lots of elders use walkers inside the home for goodness sake. This sounds very odd to me.
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I'm confused why anyone would think that someone who wants a walker would become lazy. A walker, or perhaps better yet, a rollator, can help someone with balance issues have a more supportive method of getting from one place to another.

Especially with dementia, she may not remember ways to avoid falls, such as using grab bars, avoiding trip hazards, etc. Falling in the house can be just as dangerous as falling outside.

Could you elaborate on why you and the doctor feel a walker would make her lazier?
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I agree with everyone else. Find a new doc! I would think using a walker might actually make her more active as she'll feel more confident and secure. Good for her for recognizing her need! Be sure and ask the doc for his home phone so he can come help her up when she falls while not using the walker she feels she needs. Common sense needs to be used here!
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How does a walker make you lazy? I'd consult with a physical therapist and perhaps a doctor who knows something.
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Did you hear the doctor say that? Or did you get that third hand?

If a doctor told me that using an assistive device would make my 91 yo mother "Lazy" I would shout "So what?" but I wouldn't stick around for the answer.
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Make her lazy? Find a new Dr that knows something about geriatrics and dementia..
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My grandma uses a walker to keep her steady. If anything it makes her more willing to walk as before without the walker she would cry saying she was afraid of falling. The walker is great and wonderful. I don't know why a doctor would say what he did to her. A walker is just something she still has to push but is there to make it so that she can keep from swaying while walking and will keep her walking in a straight line and also gives you a place to sit in case you get dizzy. We have my grandma's all decked out with a cup holder, a book holder and a basket under it. I can't imagine her without a walker.

On a side note, my grandma broke her neck and pelvic bone two years ago. She couldn't walk but when PT came into the room at first she wouldnt' do anything. Wouldn't respond and was always saying she was going to fall so wouldn't stand up with them. I mentioned to them she used a walker at home so they had me bring it from home. She reached right for it and struggled to get on her feet and worked everyday with her walker to get back to my house where she walks around. So if any doctor says it makes a person lazy to use a walker, they are not a very smart or good doctor because I have found it gives my grandma motivation and the sense of safety to encourage her to walk. Without it I think she would be lazy and want to be pushed around in a wheelchair not feeling confident enough to be able to walk on her own.

So let her use the walker. Let her feel confident and secure while walking. I see nothing wrong with it.
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GuvnaBee, if my parents had a doctor who said that, it would have been their last visit... and time to find someone new. That doctor knows very little about elders and what is best for them.

My Dad was always falling whenever he used his cane or was wall walking... once he got his rolling walker the falls stopped by almost 100%... and he feels so much safer with this walker. His walker has a seat and hand brakes, now not everyone can is able to use the hand brakes so it would be something your Mom would need to try out first before buying. The smaller Mom & Pop pharmacies usually have these walkers in stock for you to try out.
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I would get a new doctor immediately, but I would also be concerned with a 91 year old senior with dementia navigating in the house alone, even with help from friends and neighbors. AND a motorize stair lift would be VERY risky left in the control of a dementia patient. They often forget which way things go and their balance is off. I couldn't see allowing her to use that without supervision and I wouldn't trust that she could resist using it when alone.

Is live in care feasible? I might have her assessed to see what her level of assistance is prior to you leaving.
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The first thing the PT said when she got me out of bed to walk the corridors. "Would you like a walker?" Double the exercise using hands, arms and legs. i really do wonder if some of these guys actually went to medical school or just brought a diploma and a white coat. Perhaps there is a textbook entitled "Medical School for idiots" Anyone interested in co-authoring it.
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