Three hospital falls with carers in a year - ok?

Has she had a recent medication review? Some BP medications can cause more falls etc especially when these medications aren't needed anymore.
Some people especially the elderly still keep on taking the meds that they were prescribed for years and never get a review on which ones are still actually needed.

Just a thought

Can you walk behind the zimmer and catch them if they fall please? - NO

If you are supervising someone walking with a Zimmer frame, of course you should assist them to stay on their feet if they stumble. "Catching them if they fall" is not really what that request is at all. This may need two people if necessary.

That is totally different from your first example which is bat-shit unsafe.

The things we get asked to do as carers..

Can you come downstairs backwards and hold DMs hand as she comes down - NO

Can you walk behind the zimmer and catch them if they fall please? - NO

We need a big, strong carer to lift Ddad out of bed - NO

Honestly the list is endless!

I have had to use a rollator since I was 46 due to a disease not dissimilar to Parkinson's. Yes it's horrible and you feel people are looking at you but it's for your safety.
I think your mother is being very selfish to put you through this worry. How old is she?

^^This. It’s definitely not the carers’ fault. My mother had multiple falls because she wouldn’t use her zimmer frame or a walking stick. She was extremely stubborn and unreasonable, no one could get through to her that sh wasn’t safe to mobilise unassisted 🤷🏼‍♀️
You’re being extremely unreasonable.

Yes, I think if she is falling so often, a wheeled walker might be necessary. I think you might have to get bossy with her, because she isn't being fair or reasonable. Tell her if she doesn't use a stick or walker she won't be able to go out so much because it's not fair on you or the carers to be spending hours in A& E or to be constantly worrying that she'll fall.

My DF has Parkinsons and when he was still at home he fell on two separate occasions while I was in the room with him. He never got on with a stick as he couldn't get his coordination right but he has had more success with one of those 3 wheeled walker things that you push along.

Yes, people in very good care homes do still fall - my DM did, more than once. They can’t watch - or be right beside someone - every second. The only reliable way to stop my DM falling would have been to tie her to chair or bed. She had been given a Zimmer frame but would either forget to use it, or just didn’t want to.

This especially if they are not trained. How are they allowed to work with her if they are not trained in how to care for her?

She needs to use her bloody stick!

sometimes people find a hiking pole more acceptable than a walking stick.

They'd have to stay very close and probably be behind her or right next to her when she's walking to stop her falling, which is possibly not practicable for extended periods. How much they could intervene in a fall also dependent on their relative sizes.

Hi OP. I think 3 falls while transferring with supervision would want looking at, as care staff could be close to hand and anticipating difficulty on these occasions. I think if she's walking out and about without a stick and doesn't literally want someone to have hands on her all the time, care staff would be quite limited in what they could do to prevent a fall without potentially hurting themselves.

I'd agree with requesting a referral to the Falls Clinic. I might spend a bit of time going out with her and the carer - seeing how they do the request to use the stick, maybe trying a bit of emotional blackmail to encourage her to use it. Then imo you've done what you can and the rest is up to her.

If she's walking without a stick, she's not at the stage of 'being moved' by carers @ItsAllSoBleak

OP, if she won't use walking aids there's really not much anyone can do beyond trying to change her mind - which isn't a carer's job.

She may need two people to move her safely rather than one?
but agree 3 falls in a year is too many if she is being cared for properly.
a carer should know and say if she is unsafe to be moved by one person safely.

It's worrying isn't it? I tried to tell myself that a strong independent spirit was a good thing - and to an extent it is, when compared with giving up and doing nothing - but OMG the amount of unavoidable bruises caused by sheer stubbornness.

I've no idea what the answer is OP I'm afraid, but I wanted to let you know that you are not alone. Deep down I'm very fond of disreputable older ladies who refuse to call for help or use their recommended walking aids, and I fully intend to become a maddening old baggage myself when the time comes. But it's so hard when it's a close family member who is black & blue & sore.

'Could we expect more from the carers'....
So you do blame them? Why are they 'untrained'

It'll be amazing to hear how you think they can do more to stop her falling when she won't use aids!

My DM had Parkinson's. She had a number of falls and hospital admissions with a broken leg more than once. One time she was right next to me, started wobbling, grabbed my arm to try to get her balance and we both ended up on the floor in fits of giggles, with no injuries on that occasion thankfully! This was indoors on carpet. For outdoors she had a wheelchair.

As an ex home help, we are not permitted to catch a person who is falling, it cam do way more harm to them than letting their body do what it needs to to protect itself.

The issue is not the carers, the issue is your DM and her refusal to use the aids she needs.

Parkinsons is a bastard of a disease, and ahe is clearly not ready to accept her limitations but there is nothing the carers cam do unfortunately.

Would she listen to a physio or gp about mobility aids?

Could you maybe get her a "pretty" stick, they do some fab folding ones that are all floral etc?

Like this one to make it less clinical?

https://amzn.eu/d/bJDlVIi

Hi OP, I’m a nurse and one of the first things they tell you is that if someone is going to fall you have to let them fall, we should not be putting ourselves at risk of hurting our own backs by trying to hold peoples entire body weight up, and also trying to grab onto someone falling means you may inadvertently hurt them even more (from dislocating shoulders, breaking arms or causing skin damage such as skin tears). I’m so sorry your mum is having difficulties with her mobility due to her Parkinson’s, I’d ask for a physio referral to see if their are any aids that may help.