Knee support & walking aids for people with dementia

Martin099

Registered User
Nov 13, 2012
53
0
Dorset
Can anyone advise about knee supports or knee braces which may be suitable for my mum who has mid-stage mixed (Vasc & Alz) dementia? The tendons on her right knee-cap have ruptured and her dementia is now far too advanced to consider surgery and 5 months post-op recovery. We've battled so hard to keep mum walking over the past couple of years but now I'm wondering if there is any more we can do. Mum is only 71 but has had severe arthritus in both knees. She has had knee replacements in both knees, but now the tendons / muscles have ruptured on one side of her right knee. The specialist suggested a rollator but mum can't use one because the wheels just move ahead of her and get out of control.
Any ideas at all would be very welcome - walking aids, supports, braces, magic wands...all ideas welcome.
Trying desperately to avoid using a wheelchair full-time.
Martin
 

barny

Registered User
Jan 20, 2006
199
0
Herts
Ask for a physio referral,in my opinion should have been done automatically. There are many types of knee support and braces available which need to be the right size and properly fitted. Physios are a great source of advice.
 

sistermillicent

Registered User
Jan 30, 2009
2,949
0
I agree that any kind of knee support should be properly fitted and worn for the prescribed amount of time, whatever you do don't be tempted to get a bit of tubigrip (the stretchy cylindrical bandage) and use that, my dad was told by a carer that he should do that for his sore knee and he did so despite me saying no, he never took it off and restricted the blood flow to his leg which got so swollen it was frightening.
 

Martin099

Registered User
Nov 13, 2012
53
0
Dorset
I agree that any kind of knee support should be properly fitted and worn for the prescribed amount of time, whatever you do don't be tempted to get a bit of tubigrip (the stretchy cylindrical bandage) and use that, my dad was told by a carer that he should do that for his sore knee and he did so despite me saying no, he never took it off and restricted the blood flow to his leg which got so swollen it was frightening.

Thanks for the advice guys.
Ideally I do want a physio to direct us here, but problem is that mum resisted the last time we got a physio involved about 6 months ago.
However I will try again - even if the physion just tells me what to do - mum is far more tolerant with me thankfully!
 

opaline

Registered User
Nov 13, 2014
182
0
There are a few different types of walking frames, Mum uses an ordinary zimmer frame which offers better support, x