My parents recently were discharged from home health PT/OT. Since then they have done very little to do any follow up exercise as instructed
My mother continues to blame multiple reasons for not following through. She continues to point out that my father is weak and not doing his exercise. My father does use his walker to go to breakfast at their ALF, but again she has multiple excuses that she can't go?
Totally understand the difficulty to be motivated on your own to exercise .
A group with music and an instructor sounds great! I’m glad you are willing to go to clubs , events etc . You’ll socialize and meet friends .
1) PT doesn’t work
2) I don’t believe in PT
3) OT is stupid , she makes me hang up clothes hangers in the closet, which I don’t need because the laundry staff does that for me here ( in ALF).
4) I’m fine , I don’t need that cr4p
5) Leave me alone , I need to rest ( after a stroke ).
6) They are just wasting Medicare money.
7) I don’t want to
8) I’m tired .
9) They come too early .
10) I’m not old like the rest of these people .
It boils down to they either don’t understand , have no energy , or don’t care ( depressed) or all of the above .
Do your parents have memory issues? Is it possible they aren't remembering to take any pain meds?
How old are your parents? Why were they in PT/OT?
Trying to get them to be people they aren't (and maybe never were) is like pushing a boulder up a hill.
Way, I'll add one more your list.
11) No-one ever told me I need to walk.
After 2 years of refusing to stand or walk (she was an avid walker until the day she stopped) my mother (99) is still certain that, if she wants to, she can hop right out of bed, walk down the stairs and drive away in her car (which is long gone). She yelled at the physiotherapists to leave her alone. I think she truly believes that, when she feels like it, she’ll just pick up where she left off 2 years ago. Another dementia delusion.
Beatty, you made me snort. ‘11) No-one ever told me I need to walk.’
I asked my mother why she was being spoon fed instead of feeding herself. She informed me that nobody told her to feed herself. So I told her to pick up the cutlery and feed herself. She did. That was 2 years ago. She still feeds herself some days. Depends on her mood.
It is what it is. Accept it and don't ruin your relationship with mom by constantly nagging her. That's my suggestion.
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