Night falls

[HotTiredDog]

DM is falling at an increasing rate - typically once a week, pretty much in any scenario. She and DF live together a 5 min drive from me & DH. They’re late 80’s. He has heart failure, she has Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia and also a couple of minor spinal fractures.
We were called at 5:30 by DF as DM had been on the bathroom floor (since 4am!) Thankfully our DS was here for a visit so we could lift her back into bed - none of us are qualified but somehow we managed it with a lot of care, strength & good fortune.

I suppose my question is, apart from calling paramedics, is there anything that can be done to help get an old lady off the floor?

They currently don’t have carers at all; it’s not a question of money. I’ve been pushing for this for many months but they’re too stubborn. I’m hoping that this morning’s events will be enough to persuade them that they need more than we can give.

I couldn’t leave you with no response @HotTiredDog unfortunately the paramedics got to know our DF because he had so many falls this was unavoidable. Sometimes they picked him up and patched him up, a few times they took him to hospital and eventually the multi-disciplinary team in the hospital told us that he needed 24 hour supervision because he would potter around at all hours and has no insight into the risk.

We could not be there all the time either - and I see you recognise the risks to both you and your mum of trying to get her up (and any injuries might need to be assessed). I appreciate your parents have each other - but your Dad needs to sleep too.

At the time of a fall, maybe call 111 if they won’t call 999 and let the NHS decision tree decide whether an ambulance is needed.

Thinking prevention, it may be worth asking their GP if they are aware of the falls and for a referral to a ‘falls clinic’ and Occupational Therapy.

With your parents, if you talk to them about it as help to keep them at home it might be more accepted?

Your local careline may have a falls service? Ours does, but only from 6am - 9pm.

Otherwise it's 999 - but unfortunately it will be a low priority call and she may wait quite a while (depending on area/time of day etc).

Has she had a Falls assessment via her GP? Tell them she's fallen and is at risk of further falls.

There are a lot of techniques for getting people up, some more sensible than others but if she can be coached up you can try this.

If she is downstairs get her to shuffle to the stairs on her bottom, then get herself sitting on the first stair, then the second, and as soon as she can she can to use the stair rail to pull herself up.

You could also consider investing in a Mangar Elk or a manual Raizer Chair although they aren't cheap.

you need to consider why she is falling. Is she not putting a light on, is she not wearing her glasses, is she struggling getting off the toilet, is she wearing suitable footwear, is she tripping over a rug?
Her GP should be able to refer her to a falls prevention service which can help.
Is she getting up to use the toilet at night? Would a commode by the bed reduce her falls risk?
you have things like Raizers and Elks, but before this I would take a look at backwards chaining and try and implement this - again the falls prevention team can help here.

Thank you so much @FiniteSagacity@Hairyfairy01@olderbutwiser
They have a care call button; it’s 24 hour coverage (obviously) but not 24 hour pick-up service - DF needs to check on that tbh.

She has fallen a few times since my OP, thankfully no more injuries (luck, tbh) She’s been to a couple of Falls clinics & had OT visits but won’t do the physio 🤷🏻‍♀️
The memory clinic have increased her meds 🤞 & she has a spinal brace to ease the pain from 2 vertebral fractures, but won’t wear it much.
It’s so hard to let her have that critical agency over herself when you know it’s against her physical / medical interests.

They continue to refuse additional help at home. I can do nothing else but leave them to it - any possible angle for debate, logic, instruction, whatever, has just failed.
Likewise I’ve suggested a commode to DF but he won’t countenance it. It would be a huge help but again, if they won’t do it, I can’t force them.

Thank you all so very much.

@HotTiredDog some of us gather in the Cockroach Cafe thread when we need to share anonymously our frustrations about those we care for who haven’t planned and won’t listen. You’re very welcome to pop in to share good news or bad Cockroach Cafe and know that we will understand how you’ve tried all the things to help and you’re exhausted from the worry, and you actually have your own life to juggle too ☕🍰💐

Thank you @FiniteSagacity