hello all...
this is my first post here...I've become sort of desperate to reach out to other caregivers, and feeling quite alone in trying to do this work by myself, with a very small family.
I'm caring for my grandmother, Sylvia, who is 102 years old...she does have 24/hour aides at her apt, through Medicaid (we are in the US).
She's become weaker, not wanting to drink as much (about 2.5 bottles of "ensure" a day, watered down for hydration), and has lost weight. I just took her to the ER last night for dehydration, and her walking has become very weak.
My question is...should we still be encouraging her to walk around, or just very slowly...or just use wheelchair in the house...?
I know being bed-bound is not the greatest thing...I don't have a medical background, so I'm not sure at what point people become bed-bound. Sylvia would like to sleep all the time, or just sit up in bed... but she's more reluctant to get out of bed and walk.
Should I accept this less-walking as part of her decreased abilities, or keep encouraging it? She almost fainted the other night, that is why this is on my mind....
Thank you for any thoughts...
this is my first post here...I've become sort of desperate to reach out to other caregivers, and feeling quite alone in trying to do this work by myself, with a very small family.
I'm caring for my grandmother, Sylvia, who is 102 years old...she does have 24/hour aides at her apt, through Medicaid (we are in the US).
She's become weaker, not wanting to drink as much (about 2.5 bottles of "ensure" a day, watered down for hydration), and has lost weight. I just took her to the ER last night for dehydration, and her walking has become very weak.
My question is...should we still be encouraging her to walk around, or just very slowly...or just use wheelchair in the house...?
I know being bed-bound is not the greatest thing...I don't have a medical background, so I'm not sure at what point people become bed-bound. Sylvia would like to sleep all the time, or just sit up in bed... but she's more reluctant to get out of bed and walk.
Should I accept this less-walking as part of her decreased abilities, or keep encouraging it? She almost fainted the other night, that is why this is on my mind....
Thank you for any thoughts...