another fall

tre

Registered User
Sep 23, 2008
1,352
0
Herts
My husband crumpled to the floor again yesterday evening. This time it was around 7.00pm so I called a neighbour to help. We got him back in his chair and he has forgotten it ever happened.I think it was the same as the last time in December in that it is not dizziness, or low blood sugar or anything like that but his sense of uprightness is awry. For sometime now, when he is tired if we are out I have noticed that he tips forward and cannot stand without pitching forward but I can counter this by avoiding longer walks and getting him to sit and rest when it starts to occur.
This is different in that he does not appear tired but with no warning suddenly crumples to the floor.
In December he grazed his arms on the bed on the way down. We had another incident a few weeks back when I got him up from his chair and he had taken a few steps with me guiding him and he suddenly went but on this occasion I was able to get him sideways into an adjacent chair so he did not end up on the floor which meant I could manage for myself. Yesterday he was on the floor, no injuries not even a geaze this time, but it is impossible for me to get him up from the floor without help as he cannot follow instructions to help get him up and I cannot lift him without assistance.
In December paramedics came out to assist me.
With most other problems that have come our way I have found a work around but I cannot think of anything. We do have a walking frame which he had from the hospital when he broke his hip four years back but he struggled with it then and I do not think had he been holding it yesterday it would have prevented his falling- he would have just gone taking it with him unless it had been bolted to the floor so I think this would increase rather than decrease the risk of injury. Also, four years back he did retain some useful vision but he has PCA,rare type of AD, which affects the vision and now is blind and has no useful vision which I think will me the frame will be no help as he will just get tangled up in it.
These incidents have really depressed me. I want him home and looked after by me. I do not see residential care as a viable option as he needs one to one all the time because he is to get agitated and disorientated if he is left alone in a room at all and this would be worse in an unfamiliar environment where there are trip hazards. I think if he was in a CH it would be only a matter of time before he had a fall with another broken bone and was back in hospital and that would be the start of a big decline from which he could not be rehabilitated. This is my worst nightmare as he is extremely distressed in hospital.
I have no family who can help and feel very sad and vulnerable that I am finding myself unable to avoid a situation where I cannot sort things out on my own. Iknow I can call out the paramedics but I feel I am failing him.
Tre
 

Tin

Registered User
May 18, 2014
4,820
0
UK
Tre, so sorry to read your posting is it possible you are getting closer to using a wheelchair? A while ago when I was doing some research about inflatable bath chair/lift. There was something on the same web site called a Camel [Camal?] it was a Manger product. Inflatable seat to put under someone who has fallen, inflat to the point where you can assist them to stand. Sorry I can't remember the site and I honestly don't know if it is recommended for use by a Dementia sufferer. I will search my history and see if I can find the site.
 

Tin

Registered User
May 18, 2014
4,820
0
UK
Manger Camel lift cushion is there, but really expensive, maybe not one of my best suggestions.
 

Chuggalug

Registered User
Mar 24, 2014
8,007
0
Norfolk
Tre, because I've got a spinal condition, I got our housing department to put rail grips around the property, inside and out. These help immensely. If you have to buy them, they're between 7-8 pounds each. One per room would be useful, if that's viable for you. They might not look very nice, but are indispensable when trying to get someone up from the floor. I wouldn't be without mine, now.
 

tre

Registered User
Sep 23, 2008
1,352
0
Herts
I have never seen anything like these lift cushions. Although they are eyewateringly expensive in truth it is around the cost of a couple of weeks respite and if it works and makes me feel I would be confident that I could get him up by myself it might be worth it.
I have the SW coming on Thursday to do my carers assessment. I will talk to her about this. Ideally I would like to borrow/ hire one to try out as it is a huge outlay for something which may not be useful.
There is a centre in Welwyn Garden City which as far as I am aware is the nearest place where you can see equipment. There is also a red cross depot in Harlow but I do not think they have anything like this.
I wonder if they ever come up second hand.
With regard to the rails we already have quite a lot of these in various areas of the home but I think you are not meaning to reach up to a rail to pull up but rather to have rails positioned so that you can hold one when walking from one area to another. I am not sure this would work for us because owing to David's blindness we have to keep the centre of the rooms free of obstacles which means all the furniture is along the walls where the rails would need to be. Thanks for the suggestions though.
Tre
 

Lilac Blossom

Registered User
Oct 6, 2014
609
0
Scotland
Dear Tre

I have not seen those inflatable cushions but I understand they are used in day care to get someone up after a fall so that would indicate that they are an acceptable method. May be worth asking OT if they have any which they can give out on loan, or at least to try out even if you eventually have to buy it yourself. Sometimes District Nurses have equipment which you could have on loan.
 

patchworkamber

Registered User
Jan 6, 2014
45
0
south east wales
Dear Tre,
My hubby has become increasingly unsteady and had two fractures since december, the last one on the stairs which led to hospital stay. If he falls it is impossible to lift him so somehow he manages to pull himself up on furniture. I now find myself following him around the house and when out push him in a wheelchair. I do wonder if I am restricting his 'freedom' but the worry of a big fall and fractured hip for example seem worth the 'cotton wool wraping'. Guess its minimising risk...
 

esmeralda

Registered User
Nov 27, 2014
3,083
0
Devon
Hi Tre, my husband has had lot of falls, partly because of problems with his heart which led to sudden drops in his blood pressure, and partly due to his severe mobility problems. His GP referred him to the Falls Clinic . He had a very comprehensive assessment, physio and OT input and subsequent referrals to a Cardiac specialist. Is it worth asking your GP if there is anything similar in your area? Hope you can find some solutions.
Es
x
 

Grace L

Registered User
Jun 14, 2014
647
0
NW UK
Hello....
My husband used to have quite a few falls. (VaD/ strokes)

I used to inflate one of our air mattresses, its a big chunky 'deep base' kind.
Figured out, if I don't inflate it all the way, I could sort-of fold it into a wedge shape , then after a bit of manoeuvring ... lift him onto the wedge ... before I moved him onto a chair
(Never did this without checking he was ok first, making sure no 999 needed)

I've just googled (amazon) .... inflatable chairs ... they would probably be better.
Why didn't I think of that at the time? ... I'm a widow now, so no longer need this solution.
 

tre

Registered User
Sep 23, 2008
1,352
0
Herts
Thanks for this. I talked to the OT a couple of days ago and she is going to find a moving and handling course for me to attend before I decide what is best. She said she thinks that I should try before buying anything and also wonders how my husband might react to the noise of the compressor as she says they are quite noisy and noise does make him anxious as he is blind.
Tre
 

WIFE

Registered User
May 23, 2014
856
0
WEST SUSSEX
So sorry to hear of your husband's fall, Tre. Please look after yourself as well - and of course you are not failing David if you have to call 999 for assistance if he does fall.
You are carrying such a load on his behalf and are worthy of any help you can muster to enable you to keep him at home with you. Loving thoughts WIFE