My mother had 3 strokes in a year. She had sepsis in her knee. My mother was diagnosed just recently with Dementia also I cannot get her to walk even with a walker.. I need to get her walking.💡 Please Help
There comes a time in many elders' lives where they must go into a wheelchair full time. When walking is no longer a feasible option, whether we want them to walk or not. Dementia adds another layer of difficulties to the equation, and makes reasoning with them impossible. All you really 'need' to do is accommodate HER abilities and limitations, without forcing your will UPON her.
At some point, you have to also realize your own human limitations and medical capabilities (or lack of) with regard to caring for your parents at home. Speak to their doctors to see what sort of help they truly need, and go from there. To expect yourself to provide 24/7 care to two elders with different needs is physically impossible. Accept that fact and do what needs to be done to get them the qualified help they each need individually.
"Support" comes in many forms. Hiring help is one form of support, placement is another. But coming to a forum to get 'support' in the form of telling you to kill YOURSELF to fight this battle isn't likely to a form you're going to get b/c it's unrealistic and unhealthy for YOU! If you were to break down & need hospitalization as a result of stress, what then? Who takes care of your parents in that case? This is why you need Plan B & Plan C in place to make sure YOU'RE cared for as well as them.
Caroline, I would say you may be up against your limitations here. Are you the POA and the only caregiver for your Mom? You need to discuss this with her doctor and need referral to social services to help you find out if you can get referral for in home PT. With three strokes and that deficit, and now a knee with infection, you really need professional advice. If you cannot go on with in home care it may be time to consider placement. The question of whether that will be short term SNF (skilled nursing facility) or longer term nursing home may need to be explored. We all are merely human. We don't come supplied with magic wants. Some things cannot be fixed and some are beyond what we can manage. Embrace the realities of your situation. If you are POA start with honest discussion with Mom and her doctor.
My 82 yr old father has the same issues...Dementia, Diabetes, COPD...the list of ailments and meds to combat them seem endless. He is currently able to walk but no matter how often a doctor tells him that light exercise is key to him feeling better and keeping his mobility, he pushes back on any of our efforts to get him up out of his chair for a walk. He has refused Physical Therapy in the past but I attended his last checkup with his PCP and asked her for another referral. He repeated “I’m not going” over and over again as we drove to the PT assessment but we got him there. He turned on whatever energy switch he needed to get through the assessment. He still says he’s not going back. For whatever reason, he’s cooperating with me not taking no for an answer. I realize this could change so I’m just going to push as long as it works. This might work with your mom is she is capable of walking. Either way, an assessment might be a good place to start.
At some point, you have to also realize your own human limitations and medical capabilities (or lack of) with regard to caring for your parents at home. Speak to their doctors to see what sort of help they truly need, and go from there. To expect yourself to provide 24/7 care to two elders with different needs is physically impossible. Accept that fact and do what needs to be done to get them the qualified help they each need individually.
"Support" comes in many forms. Hiring help is one form of support, placement is another. But coming to a forum to get 'support' in the form of telling you to kill YOURSELF to fight this battle isn't likely to a form you're going to get b/c it's unrealistic and unhealthy for YOU! If you were to break down & need hospitalization as a result of stress, what then? Who takes care of your parents in that case? This is why you need Plan B & Plan C in place to make sure YOU'RE cared for as well as them.
Good luck!
Are you the POA and the only caregiver for your Mom?
You need to discuss this with her doctor and need referral to social services to help you find out if you can get referral for in home PT. With three strokes and that deficit, and now a knee with infection, you really need professional advice.
If you cannot go on with in home care it may be time to consider placement. The question of whether that will be short term SNF (skilled nursing facility) or longer term nursing home may need to be explored.
We all are merely human. We don't come supplied with magic wants. Some things cannot be fixed and some are beyond what we can manage. Embrace the realities of your situation. If you are POA start with honest discussion with Mom and her doctor.
What does your Mother's Doctor advise?
Is there a Physio in her health care team? Or OT? If she cannot walk, what advice for standing, transfers & moving about have been suggested?