Alzheimer's Disease Support Group

first- i have a question- has his meds changed recently?

Like the last writer, I would want to know about any med changes. Also if they haven't done recent lab work, ask for it!

As a nurse, I understand the home's concern and yours. How steady was he with the walker? Does he just need more closely superovised practice? If they keep in the wheelchair, he may forget how to walk & keep his balance.

I have seen patients make dramatic changes over a pretty short period of time. So, you may want to discuss this concern with the home. If

That is just not acceptable. I would think that the state survey team would say that keeping him in a wheelchair for their convenience (to watch him) is considered a dignity issue, a form of constraint, and also a lack of deserved services-- ex: has a physical therapist evaluated him? Does he have an inner ear infection? Does he have a UTI? Like the nurse said, check his medications closely with your list. We just found out the other day that a hospital transferred Mom's med. sheet to the n. home with the wrong frequency-- so for three weeks she was getting 1 pill a day instead of two-- that happened w/ two of her meds. Just because my Mom is in a n. home (or hospital or wherever) does not mean that my sister and I can just 'trust' that everything is right.
Good luck.
queenie

Thanks for your responses. I was in a panic over all you had mentioned,. He has had no changes in his meds for 2 months and the first injury was not a fall but a misstep that gave him some pain. The home health care aid recommended a walker which resulted in 2 falls in his room and that's why the weekend staff put him a wheelchair. Since my Dad is very logical, he figured out that he will use the walker outside his room only. This turns out to be a little communication problem and too much change. This whole series of events, as good-hearted as he seems, totally baffled the aid.
Don.