My mother-in-law has advanced dementia later stages she’s 89. She’s been falling a lot and it’s harder to keep her safe. She feels the need to get up out of bed and try to walk without assistance. Today she fell while I was in the bathroom and just like that she went down in a blink of an eye. We have a caregiver Matt that alerts me when she gets up out of bed, but sometimes she moves so fast that I can’t get there quick enough. She can walk with assistance about 20 steps from her room to the living room. We have a wheelchair and a seat walker as well but there’s something that just drives her to get up. I know the bedridden stage is not too far off and it scares me because I don’t know what to expect. Is there any advice someone can give me on her falls keeping her safe and what to expect on the next stage because she’s definitely in the later stages. Thank you I appreciate it.
Why isn't the aid helping?
Also the bed should be as close to the floor as possible.
He can assist her. Have a walker nearby so that he can direct her to use it. If he can not do that he should try to distract and redirect her so that she does not get up before you can get to her.
If her bed is a Hospital bed lower it all the way down. This makes it more difficult to get out of bed. Also put a mattress on the floor next to the bed so if she does get out of bed she will land on the mattress.
There is nothing that "drives her" to get up....she has dementia and does not remember that she needs assistance.
I should add.. when mom falls call 911 or the non emergency number and ask for a "LIFT ASSIST"
They are trained to help someone up. You don't want to get hurt trying to help her up and you don't want her getting hurt.
There generally is no cost unless there is transport to the hospital.