Fall alarms - looking for advice please.

[imperialqueen]

My Mum has Parkinsons. She can't raise her head up so she is basically looking at the floor when she walks. She can raise her head slightly more than that but her walk and speed is greatly affected by the fact she is unable to look straight ahead of her when walking and how slowly she now walks.

She has fallen 3 times in the space of a few months. 2 of the falls she is blaming on other factors. wet floor, pulling weeds out.

I want to speak to her about getting a fall alarm. Has anyone any experience of fall alarms?

Is it something she can wear round her wrist/neck and if she falls she can press it and I would receive a call/text that she has fallen?

Or I am thinking of asking my Mum to make an appointment with her Parkinsons nurse that I can attend with her and the 3 of us could talk about this.

I know when I broach the subject of a fall alarm my Mum won't be keen (doesn't like to admit how ill she is), which is why I would like as much info as possible before I broach the subject.

She does live with her husband who is 87. He isn't great on his feet either and also nearly deaf. So the last time she fell he was in the garden and she was on the kitchen floor for quite some time before she managed to get herself up as he didn't hear her.

Oh dear. Look at careline. Social services can also arrange one or Age UK. She can have a wrist or necklace alarm to press, it's connected to the phone and calls a nominated person, it can be family or friends, a care agency or the emergency services. The phone rings back and you say I've fallen, they call the nominated person, or 999. If you are a responder bear in mind you can be called any time day or night. It's useful to have a key safe too if either of them can't open the door, otherwise you could end up with the police and ambulance gaining access by breaking down the door which you can't claim back on insurance. It might be worth speaking to the p.d. nurse and occupational therapist to see if she can have mobility aids or adaptations made to the house. You could also ask for a social services home care assessment, she might benefit from a falls sensor mat at home.

Thanks Holey.Much appreciate you taking the time to answer.

She saw her GP yesterday and told her how about the falls.

She has an appointment in January to see the Parkinsons nurse. I mentioned the fall alarm to her this morning and she said she would have a think about it. I think it is going to take another fall(though obviously really hope she doesn't fall again) before she considers the alarm seriously. I am going with her to see the Parkinsons nurse in January and hopefully she can give us some good advice too.

There are lots of things that might make life a bit easier for them, a riser recliner chair, bed with controls so it goes up and down, bath seats, adapted cutlery, it can all be arranged from the p.d. nurse or o.t. and you don't pay for it. My mum fell and landed in the bushes in her front garden and sat there waiting for someone to walk past before she could get up, old age, eh, comes to us all.

Hi OP. My mum has had Parkinson's for18 years and was bereaved 12 months ago when my DF suddenly passed away. The grief has accelerated her decline and we have had a very difficult 12 months helping her adjust with the ever worsening symptoms. She is mainly in denial but as soon as my DF died I arranged for her to have an alarm as she is also prone to falls. She has never ever worn it. It makes me so cross. I've pointed out all the reasons why she should wear it, that she's paying for a service that she can't access when she needs it but it all falls on deaf ears.

However, I have just recently involved SS who have already sent out an Occ Therapist who came and assessed her house (never been done) and I also found out she's not seen a parkinsons nurse for more than a year (staffing crisis and then got 'missed' off the list). Thankfully she's now got some equipment delivered (toilet frame) with more on order (aid to her help get up from bed, banister for her stairs etc). Everyone has been fantastic but it has been a long and lonely road to reach this point.

Wishing you nothing but love 💕

Holey, how awful for your Mum. Hope she is doing better now.

Blue - sorry for your loss. Parkinson's is just awful. It is hard to broach the subject of aids etc with my Mum, as it is admitting she is old, vulnerable and needs help now. She is only 68 which is I know isn't young but nowadays doesn't feel old enough to be needing this much help.

Also, her Mum, my Gran needed all sorts of aids and help in her final years and I think my Mum can see her life ending the same way as her Mum's did.

As you said Holey, "old age, comes to us all".

Thank you, she had another fall on the pavement, she won't go out after dusk now, it shakes you up when you fall and it's embarrassing although she tries to laugh it off. I hope you get some help sorted out.

If definitely get a key safe fitted, we have one for my mum's house. We all have a key but it means if there's an emergency paramedics, police, anyone whose nearest that we can contact can also access the house. Also needed if a care package is put in place at any point so carers can come and go. The pendant phone response we priced up at £8pmth but mum is no longer at the point where it's warranted right now. Definitely ask for an assessment if you can get on to see what can be put in place. As other pp stated occupational therapists can work up a good support package for home aids. Mum has handrails fitted in the bathroom, outside patio doors, toilet aid, and we added an additional stair banister for stability whilst going upstairs. She carries her mobile around the house in a lightweight across body bah too.

My dad had a careline buzzer. When he fell out of bed he spent an hour shuffling round on hs arse to get to the phone to ring me. DH answered. Said hang on a min mate. I'll call you back. I got home. Oh, your dad rang. I phoned him. Can you come. He didn't press his buzzer as he didn't want to bother them.

In later times he did use it and we were able to respond immediately.