I have been staying with my Grandpa at night because in the mornings and sometimes night, his blood pressure gets very low and he has passed out and fallen multiple times. He gets up about 8 times a night to pee and uses the bedside commode to reduce his risk of falling. It's when he leaves the bedroom that he tends to get weak and fall. I'm needing something that will alert me when he leaves the bedroom but not alert me when my grandma leaves. Is this even possible? I've tried researching it but can't find anything for this particular situation. I've been sleeping on the floor right outside the bedroom so that I can get up with him but if I could find something to alert me then I would sleep in the basement and come up if he leaves the bedroom.
Also absolutely talk to Doctor about low blood sugar ASAP.
Good -luck don’t forget to take care of yourself too!
You are not taking care of yourself.
Unfortunately, out of a desire to 'help,' people allow themselves to burn out and then are not able to support / help their loved one enough- or at all.
It is imperative that as we care for another, with this exhausting loving work, that we, as a care provider, take care of our self - FIRST by ...
1. Get help / caregivers when needed.
2. Ask for volunteers - churches, Next Door, Facebook, college students
- and/or pay a small stipend
3. Realize that you cannot do it all - this is the first step
4. For the safety and well-being of your loved one, make changes when they are needed, i.e.
* moving to assisted living or 24/7 care
* get more care in the home
* investigate financial support through Medi-caid, etc.
5. Do not wait for something to happen.
6. As needed, get into therapy yourself to learn how to manage the overwhelm, stress, exhaustion (by setting boundaries, learning that you cannot do it all, a space to express your sadness and grief - these are grief moments ... a person / loved one is declining. It is important to process these feelings and not allow them to get 'stuck' - it / they will deplete you.
7. Pray and/or meditate.
8. Get regular respites (from 2 hours to 2 days to 2 weeks) as needed.
Gena / Touch Matters
I suppose the "problem" would be is the alarm will wake everyone up.
If he uses a bedside commode is there a reason he leaves the bedroom?
Some people use a video baby monitor (but that only works if the sound of his moving about will wake you) or there are motion-detection systems you can have installed.
Have you thought about putting a commode in his room? Many people opt for this rather than risking falls for their LOs.
AlvaDeer said: "It sounds primarily orthostatic, that is change in position effects it."
This is very common in Parkinson's. Our geriatrician stopped one of my husband's meds for his prostate which helped along with the adjustable bed. Overnight Tranquility briefs also help. https://tranquilityproducts.com/product/tranquility-premium-overnight-disposable-absorbent-underwear-dau/
My husband needs a CPAP but has never adjusted to it. He recently was prescribed O2 at night and now he has only one (if any at all) trip to the bathroom at night.
A simple test can indicate the possibility of orthostatic (don't rely on your home test though).
1. Take his blood pressure before he gets out of the bed.
2. Take his blood pressure sitting on the bed.
3. Take his blood pressure standing.
Allow a minute or two between each step.
It sounds primarily orthostatic, that is change in position effects it.
What medications is your grandfather on that effect his blood pressure?
How often do you measure his blood pressure?
What has the MD said about the severity of this hypotension?
Often it is balance more than anything taking elders down; that often cannot be fixed. But hyptension often can be fixed.
That I know of no such device as you mention exists unless grandfather is willing actually to push a button on a device to alert you.