I probably get a call 2 or so afternoons/evenings per week, from one of the staff at Jeff's ALF to tell me he fell down, but they've assessed him and he seems fine. This is, as far as I can tell, just a normal risk for someone with AD who is still on foot.
I don't really think there's anything anyone could or should be able to do about this. You can't not let people who are still mobile walk around. It does make me wonder though, how often falling leads to decline in this population. My Dad had Parkinson's. His death resulted indirectly from his illness though, in that he had a couple of falls at home where he hit his head and caused a hematoma which did further brain damage. So far Jeff has bruised his tailbone, but not much more.
My dh doesn't have Parkinson's, just AD. Two weeks ago he said he was going to get the paper in the box so out the front door he goes. Our front door is on the side of the condo. I go into the kitchen, sit in front of window. DH doesn't walk around. Where is he? Finally I get up at the same time he comes back in, his arm gushing blood. All he says is "help me". Because I didn't see what happened, we will never know because he never tells the same story twice. He fell off the porch onto brick edging. Did he trip? Did he have a dizzy spell? Was he knocked out for a bit because he has a lump on forehead? Gash the length of his arm. No stitches, skin is too thin. Everything is healing okay. Now another worry.
Do you know if he falls forward or backward - or just goes down? DH was just going straight down for months - then all of a sudden it stopped and he hasn't fallen in about 3 months. His doctor and I both think he was having TIA's. And, he never remembered falling. It's scary though - if they should hit their head on something.
I don't know, but I know that he has, on occasion, missed a chair for example. I do believe that his circulation has changed a lot this year in that he is often cold (he always wears a zip hoodie nowadays,) and his ankles are puffy from water retention. It is interesting because prior to his steep decline into Stage 6 AD this year, he has always been inordinately healthy. So these things seem to be occurring in tandem with the worsening AD.
emily, when I get a call that Steve fell, I think it's actually that he attempted to sit where there is no chair. I have seen him do this several times--either miss a chair, as you said, or just squat like he's starting to sit where there is nothing to sit on. There was only one time when it was witnessed--and the aide said that's what it was. Otherwise, they just find him on the floor, uninjured--so far. If that's the problem, I don't think there's anything you can do about it.
Emily... My dh was always so cold and he was retaining water in his feet, hands and face. The hospice doctor that filled out his death certificate put down Congestive Heart Failure as the cause of death. Of course, I knew he also had a bad heart. Then the third thing he put down was vascular dementia and not alzheimers....don't know why he did that and I really don't care to find out. I am not a doctor, but I think once the AD hits the late stages it begins to affect various organs in their body and most anything can happen. Will hope he doesn't fall much any more and you will be in my thoughts and prayers.
I really don't know what the major difference is between Alzheimers and vascular dementia is....how does a doctor know that?
VaD involves the blood vessels of the brain. Usually it starts after TIAs and strokes where ares of the brain have been damaged due to blood clots blocking the flow. High blood pressure and high cholesterol are often given the cause of the stroke and tia's. AD on the other hand is when the build up of amolyod plaques destroys the brain. Both work to destroy the brain -just with different weapon.
Thanks so much Charlotte.....very simple, but I never knew the difference. I do believe my dh had a series of TIA's about a month before he really went down hill and then I think he had at least two regular strokes in the last week or two....the hospice nurses agreed with me.
Dado took a nasty fall today, after some weeks of no mishaps. And, the place where he fell, well, 10 minutes later he was back there messing around again.
He has large scrapes on his back and legs, nothing needing stitches but I bet his body is sore. I heard a "thump" when I was in the kitchen. Opened the door and called and called, (it is just right there), and the strange thing was he did not answer. When I found him he was confused, but truly forgot about it almost immediately.
Just when, I thought I was going to be able to do this thing, hang on, don't place him. Now I sometimes wonder if I am jeopardizing his safety.
Tomorrow I go to market and have to take him the 2 hours drive with me. Ugh. This may not happen much longer, but I really need the income. Hoping for a solution soon, a friend coming at the end of the month. Not holding my breath though.
oh, and emily. Yes I agree, you can't NOT let people walk that have the ability. It is the chance we take, they take.
But at least 1 care center (where my hb was) don't want them to walk if they have a tendency to fall. Liability issues. Into a wheel chair they go. Hb was never one to sit still. After a short chat w/me, they let him walk, but were watchful. We all know they can fall even while we watch.
My wife has fallen several times, but not lately since she doesn't walk much. On time she just sat down on the floor because she was scared (I had taken her out on our balcony). 2 nurses and I couldn't get her up, so we called the ambulance squad. They got her up and into the living room, then wanted to take her to the hospital to see why she "fell". I almost had to go against medical advice to convince them that she did not fall, just sat down because she was scared. I was holding her hand when she sat down - very slow motion. She was not hurt in any way.
I really never thought about my DH falling. I guess it did cross my mind. He has stumbled going up the stairs and walks very slowly behind me. He did have a TIA in 2007. He does get scrapes all the time. I guess the medicines make his skin thinner. He was plugging in a charger for his IPad yesterday and shocked himself. Now I am worried about those things too. Oh, there is so much to watch for and worry about. He is by himself at home some. Not long. I really struggle with leaving him at all. It is so hard to know if you are doing the right thing at the right time. I teach preschool 3 days a week. His mom gets him at least one of those days. I am usually gone 4 1/2 hours. He is having trouble finding words now. I think I know the answer. Don't wait until something bad happens. I am rambling. It's hard because he is so aware of everthing still. I mean of his home and who I am, that he would not like going to daycare or anything. I am not really asking anything just thinking out loud.
falling may be associated with some medications as well. there are many many side effects to some of these powerful drugs we use. especially the ones we use for controlling behaviors and anxiety. syncope or sudden fainting can be a cause as well which can be due to many reasons again including some med side effects sudden drops in blood pressure, sugar levels alot of things. if falling is happening regularly i would consult the dr and see what can be done. if they fall alot about the only thing to do is try to get them into some sort of protective walker that helps if they can. divvi
My dh has fallen twice when outside and I've had to call for help because he is not strong enough to get up alone. I watch when he gets up at night because I'm so concerned about a fall in the bathroom. That is the most dangerous room in the house. He was taking a sleeping med that took away his balance I think because he needed assistance and it was all I could do to keep him steady. I stopped that med after one night. Rather him not sleep than to have a fall. He does have a cane which I urge him to use when outside but he forgets 1. to take it with him or 2. we are hunting where he left it outside.
Jeff would not be able to use a walker. He would not understand it's purpose, nor could he see it well enough to put it into use, so he's pretty much stuck with just his feet and legs until that doesn't work anymore.