How long do I have until dad is bed-bound?

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Forsuchatime Asked December 30, 2023

How long do I have until dad is bed-bound?

I know there's no set time table for this, but I'm asking it anyways. My dad is in stage 5 or 6 Alzheimer's (he still knows me and my family and some friends, talks some (when he wants to), but is urine and fecal incontentent, has little short term memory, and is in a wheelchair. He is in assisted living and getting to the point where it is getting VERY difficult for him to transfer to the toilet or the bed. He takes slow, slow steps and barely is able to move. What is even more bizarre is there are rare occasions, usually when he is concerned about Mom or he wants chocolate milk, that he actually gets up and walks. But 99 percent of the time, he can barely move or transfer, usually missing the toilet.

I wish I knew how long we have until he is bed-bound and can't get around anymore. It makes a difference, because we are considering moving him and mom into a handicap accessible room very near the nurses station. But I'm hesitant because he hates noise and has been adamant about peace and quiet. Any thoughts or experience in how quickly or slowly your loved one progressed from wheelchair to bed-bound? A handicap room would make it easier for the nurses. However, they have assured me that he can be cared for either way.

Alzheimer's & Dementia Caregiver Support Dementia Behaviors Mobility

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score 1 · Answer 1

Your Dad is a very high fall risk because he mostly cannot walk but at times believes he can and then does. This is how my 100-yr old Aunt fell and broke her hip in her own home (shimmied past the barriers and got out of bed). Went to rehab (although she had adv dementia and mostly didn't cooperate). I was in the process of finding her appropriate placement (all the while in rehab she was still attempting to get out of bed, even with her broken hip). She wasn't fully bed-bound so I knew she'd just keep falling and falling no matter where she lived. She passed away in rehab one night, it may have been from a clot (which is a common problem after a large bone fracture). She was a very healthy woman and could have lived many more years. Her older sister is still alive and thriving at 104-1/2.

The likely trajectory is that he will fall and break something, which will immobilize him for a while...or permanently. Then he will be eligible for LTC.

Helpful Answer (1)

He has fallen many times, but amazingly has never been hurt beyond just a scratch. He was very athletic and taught me gymnastics out in our backyard when I was young. I think it served him well even now. He has an amazing ability to fall in slow motion and crawl across the room to get where he needs to be

Thank you for your story. It helps to hear other's stories and perspective.

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score 0 · Answer 2

When you say "assisted living" do you mean a nursing home? We consider Assisted Living as a residence where you pay privately with minimum help. Maybe one RN on duty and a few aids. In describing ur parents, this type of facility would not continue to care for your parents. It would be Memory care or Longterm care.

Bedbound is the last stage of ALZ. With my Grandmother, she went into the fetal position which is what usually happens. This is the end.

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Yes, it is assisted living, but they also have memory care. But we live in a rural area and the nursing homes in the area are atrocious. I would never want them transferred to one, even if it means they are at a higher risk of falling. Their risk of going septic at one of these nursing homes is much higher because of inadequate staff.

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score 2 · Answer 3

My Dad didn’t have dementia, he had end stage congestive heart failure and slowly lost mobility. His walk turned into a shuffling, unsteady gait during his last few years, with being bedbound only happening the week before he died. You didn’t ask, but in your shoes, I’d forget the toileting trips and rely on Depends, and I’m with dad on being in a room with peace and quiet

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Thank you for your input. Dad has been in depends for almost two years, but they still have him on a two hour toilet schedule. Unfortunately, his steps are so slow that from the time they remove the depends and he steps back to the toilet, there is often a miss. But usually the depends is wet as well.

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