my mom is an 80 yr old stroke victim. There's a long story behind it, but to make it short over the past years she has been able to walk with a cane. This yr she had an unexpected fall which had her bed ridden for a few months...compound fractures which the doctors say we can not operate at her age and condition. Mom and I worked really hard and she is up around and on the move again - with a walker. She is good about using it to go out and about. The past couple weeks I see her trying to walk around the house without it...I realize it is her only control on her life, but the doc said she must use it at all times. I am not getting any support from the family on making her use it in the house. I am the full time care giver and am wondering how to make the family back me up. They keep saying it is her life, but the thing is if she falls then she is going to be bed ridden...they will not be the one to care for her if this happens. Besides I want her to have fun the last yrs....
good luck...
1. remove all "trip" hazards - area rugs, tables with legs that stick out etc.
2. place furniture - sturdy furniture - so she can furniture walk
3. install hand holds in the bathroom - you can get bars that stand alone to wrap around the toilet or those that bolt to the wall. look for various types online or at your closest home health care pharmacy.
4. use a shower chair ALL the time, install at grab bar in the shower
5. try a smaller walker with 4 wheels not 2, My mom got tired of dragging her 2-wheeled walker around; it was actually HARDER for her. She did much better with a walker that moved side-ways more easily.
6. try a walker with a seat or basket, mom used this to transport stuff around the house and it seemed to help keep her "working" longer - she moved towels from the laundry to the bathrooms, dirty dishes from dining room to kitchen. It might seem minor but it helped her feel like she could still make some contribution by using it as a "trolley" or "cart" to haul things around.
I hope you can find a safe and happy medium. I admire her willingness to bounce back and you are a blessing to her.
let us know how it works out.!
ums
I had a similar problem with my MIL and had to tell her constantly to use the walker. And actually took all canes and put them away - per doctors orders.
Yes, it is their life; but if they cannot make smart decisions to keep them from injuring themselves - such as a walker - then you have to do it for them. The rest of the family is being irresponsible by just fluffing it off. But, people do that as it is the easier thing to do. It's difficult to be the "bad guy". If she ends up bedridden due to a serious fall due to not using a walker you may not be able to take care of her needs anymore and she could require a skilled nursing facility.
I've heard it all about losing independence, and they don't like how it looks; well my mother fell over and over again by not using one out of pure stubbornness and it caused unnecessary injuries and problems. All could have been prevented. It puts so much added stress on the caretaker for no good reason. The walkers keep their bodies balanced and helps with posture.
They are not losing independence by using a walker - they are gaining it - it is all a matter of perspective. When my father reached the point where he had to use a walker, he did it with no complaints and he never fell. He always was a role model to me even in the elderly years, God bless him. Blessings to all dealing with this issue - it is a challenge.
Get the walker and go around the house with it yourself to see from your Mom's views what could be the problems. Have your spouse and/or your Mom's spouse also go around the house with walker, and give suggestions. Things look different from the other side.