Do you think it is time for him to be evaled for a wheelchair....? and that might check off the walking criteria for Hospice....?

Hi Deborah, This is not a good subject to be an expert on......and I doubt that anyone is, however, my husband has been taking some pretty bad falls for a year, now, and they found that his blood pressure drops suddenly, to VERY low, whenever he stands (which he is unable to do, any longer). It goes back to normal when he sits or lies back down, but when he's up for a very short time, it drops way low, and causes him to get faint and he falls.

As I understand it, Hospice is strictly for people who are a short time away from death. Hospice keeps them comfortable while they are waiting to die, to put it bluntly. I have a niece, who has MS, and it has progressed to the point where she is unable to move anything except her head. A couple of months ago, she got a bad infection and was more or less in a coma for about two weeks. She wasn't expected to live, so they put her in a Hospice. Then......all of a sudden, she came out of the coma, so was not allowed to stay in Hospice, so she is in a nursing home, now.

When my husband was still at home, we contacted The Scooter Store, and they helped us to get a power chair for my husband, from Medicare. It helped him in many ways, even though the main floor of our home is the upper floor, and my husband wasn't able to take the power chair anywhere, except here in the house.......and not everywhere up here, either.

If you want to read the entire story on what my husband has been thru, just check out my first journel, OK?

Good luck. Alzheimer's is a very cruel disease. "Kaysback"

My Carl was falling all the time and not over anything in particular either. He had neuropathy in his legs and didn't have much feeling and I believe that is why he fell so much. Shortly before he broke his hip he fell 8 times in 3 wks. the broken hip is what sped up his death and I'm not sure it was a bad thing. He used walkers and scooters and still fell alot.
It could have something to do with his meds, but Like marianne said, if he was needing a wheelchair, maybe he could be re-evaluated for hospice. I know you are very tired of even talking about all of this...I know how you feel, but I know you will make it and you will be fine. One day at a time. xox Carolyn

I'll be honest, I don't think Rollie could figure out how to use walkers, or canes or a wheel chair. He INSISTS on walking around (when I say he walks I am being very loose with the word 'walk'). He does this very slow, shuffle thing, never really picks up his feet, just slides them along.

Thanks, Kaysback, Our house is very tiny so I don't know if we could maneuver it very well, but I will check out your story. Thanks. It's probably part of the illness so I will just have to make sure the pat is even clearer.

Hi,
The last year Ken also walked at a snails pace, couldn't seem to pick up his feet just shuffled. I don't think this is uncommon in the late stages.
He also fell a couple of times, it wasn't because of a trip just would loose his balance,He never was hurt but scarred us both. It was hard for me to get him up because it was dead weight.
Ken couldn't use a walker and I didn't get a wheel chair for the longest time because I felt he couldn't move his feet.
I wished I had gotten it sooner, it helped so much just getting him around in the house.It saved me so much time. I would make sure he didn't sit in it all day , get him up and let him walk at his pace .
It was 20 bucks a month medicare picked up the remainder. Doctor just had to write a prescription for it.
It was one of the criteria for hospice. He had to be in the hospital 3 days and pt for another 3 days to make sure he couldn't walk .

Interesting, Glenda, I just wonder about getting a wheel chair in and around my home, I live in a strange house, not your basic home. I will think about it. And would Rollie actually stay in it, he seems determined to walk.

Deborah, I think you are doing the best you can do with what you have to work with. If he falls, he falls. It is what it is. I just say, "Shit, shit, and more shit". I hate this job!

very true SHaron

Nothing new I can add. Doubt if it is medicine causing the falls. My husb shuffles at times and has fallen many times, including broken nose, and dislocated shoulder, many cuts and bruises. Think it is part of Alz. A wheelchair is handy to have. My cousin with Parkinson's uses hers some days and loves it, others feels okay with walker and support.
Having it listed as a need may well help as Marianne says..

Since Rollie has a DNR and Advance Directive in place, maybe you could help me with guidelines of what to do in the event of a serious fall.

I think it would be helpful to all of us if we discuss this topic. 1st, who should I call, 911? Or just take him to ER myself? If he falls and bust a big gash in his head? What about that? If he falls and it is just cuts and bruises, just clean and put ice?

IF he was a healthy human and not sick and dying I would probably rush him to the nearest ER for any minor injury but now I'm not exactly sure what to do. If he falls and breaks a bone, do I take him to ER? and what will they do? Fix it? or just give him pain meds?

Deb: I'll share what I am aware of....some of it cause of my Dad who was in a NH with Hospice in Fl, Hospice told me there are "some things" that demand medical attention.....I think a fall which breaks a bone is one of those things, also an obstructed bowel is another....my Dad had such a fall....fractured his hip.....also had a fatal subdural hematoma.....


Because I was aware of the need for medical attention in certain cases due to my Dad I have tried to plan for my husband, although as we learn you can plan all you want then life happens....

Since I am only interested in palliative care for Ron (even though he doesn't qualify for Hospice), I went and talked to his neurologist and separately his cardiologist and told them what i thought felt and wanted. They agree with me completely and said...if Ron ever 'needs a hospital' you can bring him here (two different hospitals) and get in touch with me and I will see to it that he gets palliative care only.....so, maybe you can do that or something like it, get his docs on board wit h you and an agreement that if something happens requiring the hospital that wises for palliative care only will be recognized....

Deb or anyone who wants to discuss this further with me, feel free to message me and I will give you as much detail as you wish, if it would help.....

ok, that makes me feel better, I will take him to the VA where it is on record that he is only palliative and I have his doctor's cell number too so I will alert her that we are on way to the hospital. That sounds reasonable and kind and loving to do it that way.