Find Senior Care (City or Zip)
Join Now Log In
D
dghashagen Asked September 2012

Why would an elderly person who could walk, stop walking and eating after she broke her arm?

She was eating a walking on her own. She broke her arm and now she acts like she can't walk. She will not walk or eat. She has alzheimers.

jeannegibbs Sep 2012
She has alzheimers.

Irrational behavior is the norm when people have brain impairments.

Does she eat OK when she is being fed? Is it her dominant arm that is broken? Can she be encouraged to do some feeding tasks with her other arm? Perhaps hold a milkshake and drink through a straw?

I wonder if some sessions with a physical therapist would be useful? "After you had that bad accident, we need to get your body working again." I would NOT try to convince her that there is nothing wrong with her legs, but go along with the "I can't walk" delusion and then work on "curing" her legs (even though nothing is wrong with them.) Am I making any sense?

But I think the basic answer to why she is behaving so strangely is that her brain, which controls all behavior, is not working normally.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ask a Question

Subscribe to
Our Newsletter