As of a few months ago she is 100% incontinent and I still have her walk to the bathroom which is in the bedroom to clean her up. It's easier to do it there. A few weeks ago she stopped standing back up off the toilet so I struggle to lift her. She is about 235lbs and 5'2. Yesterday she almost fell on the way back. Like she just is giving up. And today I could barely get her to stand side the bed with a Walker. It seems like bathroom trips will be hazardous. I have been caring for her 5 years now. I use prevail pullups. Seems these wont be an option any more if she can't stand. Any advice please? There's no book for this. Struggling with next steps. Also not understanding why she would stop walking. She doesn't speak much anymore either. And when she does she tends to ramble. I don't think she is understanding what I am saying much anymore.
Not looking forward to this stage AT ALL. She has begun to fall quite often and tries to hide it, but her fall pendant goes off and nobody answers it so the Paramedics have become weekly visitors.
Mom only weighs about 140 lbs, but it's a deadweight. Even with help of YB, I cannot move her. It takes 2 paramedics to get her back up, they told me not to even TRY...
Yes, check for UTI's. Those things can make someone so sick so fast. If it's not that--then it's time to re-evaluate everything.
My DH aunt, 95, dementia and totally incontinent was put on hospice more than a year ago. With hospice she has a daily CNA to bathe her and she receives incontinence supplies. Most hospice don’t give you daily cna. Call around.
She also could go to the restroom for changing for a long while and then could not. I think she may have been in pain and unable to tell us. When I would treat her for pain, Advil or other, she seemed to be more willing to get up. She would claim no pain so it was a test more or less to see if she responded better. Please do get a UTI test. It’s amazing how much a person is affected by a UTI.
We started out with Home Health for the homebound through her Medicare insurance and she was deemed eligible for hospice through them. She had been on home health for many years. Just call a hospice company and ask for an evaluation. They are very helpful.
When my elderly Dad had this issue, his caregiver suggested a raised toilet seat with side bars. That helped him big time. The raised toilet seat sits upon the regular toilet seat, and Dad used the side bars to help him stand up.
Now to figure out why mom-in-law has stopped walking. Could be it is too painful on her joints, especially the knees. There are over the counter creams that you can try, check with her doctor first.
Hope the doctors can figure this mystery out.
Reduced talking &/or mobility could be stroke... or any other reason.
Is Alzheimer's diagnosed? How many years ago? Alz will eventually degrade the brain's speech & balance ability.
It's ok to get professional help if your MIL's needs have exceeded your physical ability in the home. It's all you can do really.
Do something before something happens.
My first thought would be to check for a UTI ? UTI can cause sudden decline in speech - cognitive - falls and walking etc.
I would first ask her dr to test for UTI and do bloodwork to rule out imbalance. Sometimes just these small things can cause large declines. 🙏🏼