Frequent Falls

[Emac]

Looking for some advice. My mum who has AD is in a care home and has been for four years. The care home are pretty good in that the staff are caring and kind. They have the usual issues with missing laundry and communication failures at times but overall we are happy with them and Mum is happy there. However recently Mum has had several falls. These always seem to happen when none of the staff are in the room..gone to respond to another incident for example and even sometimes when someone is in the room but Mum has stood up from her chair lost her balance and the staff member couldn’t get to her in time.

Mum has no reflexes so if she loses her balance she won’t put out her hands to protect herself so often it’s her head and face that bear the brunt of it. There have been a few falls that have resulted in stitches. The most recent happened on the day of my Dads funeral ( thank you universe for making a bad day even worse...) She spit her chin open On a piece of furniture and needed seven stitches. And was badly bruised.

The desire to roam combined with poor balance and no reflexes is just an accident waiting to happen. She has never had or used any walking aids so introducing them now is probably not going to work. OT have been asked to assess her however I am just wondering if anyone here has experienced a similar situation and if you have any thoughts on what might help?
Thanks

 

[Lirene]

She needs a ‘crash mat’ by her bed or bed with side rails, providing she is not capable of climbing out. Also there are special padded chairs which can be tilted to a degree to stop people getting out on their own. OT’s can help but as usual I think there may be a wait for specialist equipment . Care home should be keeping a note of all the falls mum has had and she obviously needs reviewing as a matter of the utmost urgency.
I am so sorry, obviously worrying time for you and your family. Love and hugs xx

 

[Emac]

Hi Lirene thank you for replying. She has a crash mat and a bed with side rails. There is an alarm in case she should get out of bed in the night. She could do with a crash helmet and a bubble wrap suit I think!
We did wonder about a recliner type chair though the worry would be she would still attempt to get out of that and would certainly fall. She is due a review so I will chase up on that and see what can be done.

 

[Lirene]

Hope you get sorted, and soon. My mum has this special chair and so does my husband OT’s seem to think they are better at keeping my husband in and safe ! He’s only just got it and thinks he is a bit of an escapologist (advanced Parkinson’s, dementia, hallucinations, paranoia and falls resulting in two hip fractures- they can do no more with- any more falls his surgeon said would be catastrophic. So everyone is hoping this chair is the answer.
Hope you get sorted- don’t forget we have to fight for our love ones and everything they need!
Love and hugs xx