What is Alzheimers Disease
Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disease, is the most common cause of dementia and characterized clinically by progressive cognitive deterioration together with declin...
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In a period of 2 weeks time my mother has gone from walking to not being able to stand/walk. She has been diagnosed since 02 and has been in an Assisted Living facility here in CO for 2 years. Living in this facility is conditional on being able to do stairs. Other than Alzheimers she has been in great physical condition.
In January she suffered a bad fall and had a broken arm and torn up sholder. She has since recovered pretty well with still some pain the the sholder but gained use of her arm and hand to at least eat etc. I'm wondering if at that time she injured her knee, ie torn ligament or other soft tissue injury. She fell again on the 19th and they ex-rayed it and said she didn't break it that she just has arthritis. I'm POA and I think she should be seen by an Orthopedic doc and will talk to the facility Dr about that but don't really know how I go about finding a specialist for her to see that will take medicare/medicaid patient in this state CO. The reason I'm anzious is that if she can't walk they will move her to the NH next door and she has been very happy where she is and I think still has some quality of life there which she will lose in the NH. If there is a simple problem then we should fix it. I'm not asking for a knee replacement. Any Suggestions????? TIA donna Posted on 07/26/09, 12:07 pm |
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I think you are right to have a complete work on your mother. Just because she has ALZ doesnt mean something else is going on. ALZ is a strange disease but it doesnt usually progress that rapidly. Imagine it could but there could be soemthing else going on. Get another opinion about her walking. You will then be able to know what is the best thing to do for your mom. Marcia 
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thanks Marcia...its so frustrating when people even caregivers want o write someone off because they have AZ. I did get an appointment with a doc but I have to somehow get her there so now I have to rent a wheelchair and literally wheel her into his office because he won't admit her without seeing her first. He says he needs to have a "diagnosis"...gee ya think- CAN'T WALK-...isn't a good diagnosis!! She outweighs me by 30 lbs so I'm really nervous, plus she has to somehow get up a 1/2 flight of stairs at the assisted living facility and they can't help me because of liability issues
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It is frustrating to say the least. Today I went to see my mother who was admitted last Wednesday to the dementia unit in the nursing home. Her legs were really swollen. I cant believe not one person noticed it. Mom also has heart failure and swelling of legs is one big symptoms of problems. People tend to think of the one main diagnosis and dont look for other things. See if you can borrow a wheelchair to get your mom to the DR. If you let the Drs office know you are coming with a person who is physically incompasinated they sometimes will help you get the person into the Drs office. When you call for that appointment be sure you use the world PHYSICALLY INCOMPASINATED. Those words make them think in a different mode. Marcia
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Thanks Marcia, I've been awake since 5am worried. When mom leaves the facility she will NOT be able to return because she can not do stairs. That is unless there is a reasonable expectation that thru surgery she will improve. I know I WILL have to find a new place for her. They said the NH next door is full anyway. My only hope is the doc will admit her to the Hospital and that will buy me some time. Otherwise I guess I'll have to bring her home with me and that will be very difficult. If that happens I'll call social services, they were very helpful when she had to go to Assisted Living in 07. Of course they are swamped and overwhelmed.
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