Dad starting to have falls

[AluckyEllie]

Hello,

I’m a first time poster on these boards although I have lurked for a while because I suspected the time was coming when I would need advice. My dad is 78 and is increasingly doddery. He has had heart failure since his 60s and has done very well tbh to keep his independence as he has for so long. He also has gout, painful vascular issues in his legs, he’s had several tia’s with no lasting effects and is on blood thinners for AF.
He has had several falls before but they seemed to be trips or walking down the stony bit at the beach! However, he has now fallen twice in a week. The first one he was leaning forward doing some drilling and felt dizzy. The second one - he said his legs just gave way.

I’ve got my mum to book an appointment at the gp in case there’s any meds that need altering or there’s a community falls nurse available.

What did you do if you had family members that fell regularly? He goes on his own to walk the dog, that’s when he had the second fall and a neighbour picked him up. Does he need to stop walking the dog alone or do we just accept the risk? He likes going out and having a chat with the other dog walkers. He has a stick and his mobile, but he never uses the phone and just carries it to keep us happy. We stopped him driving when he got increasingly frail, how do we help him keep that last bit of independence?

Thanks

Hello, ask go for a referral to the falls clinic who can help with all sorts- OT/ physio etc.
Would he accept using a walking frame?

Thanks for the reply, I’ll ask my mum to talk to them about a referral or I’ll chase it if she doesn’t. We’ve spoken to him about using a sturdier stick- one of those walking sticks with a quad base and he was reluctant enough about that. I’ll ask about a frame too. Even just googling that has shown me a whole range of aids I never knew existed so I’m going down that wormhole now!

Have a look if there is a mobility aids place near them where he can try things.
An ot advice would be best.

Falls clinic. He may need his medication adjusted as it may be making him fall over and/or he may have lost physical fitness so physio would help him with exercises to gain strength to stop falling over.

Plus numerous issues other issues - is his eyesight OK - can he see where his feet are? And so on. No point checking out aids if they aren't the right ones for his issue.

My DM has gone from barely walking around her house with a zimmer to independent with correct meds and physio - so not everyone will get that result but there is a lot you can do about falls.

Does he have a panic button on the back of his phone? DMIL has one so if she falls either she, or whoever finds her only has to press one button to contact 4 or 5 people by text.

Sorry, forgot to put, her phone is a Doro one.

Does he need to stop walking the dog alone or do we just accept the risk If he still has capacity, which it sounds as if he does, it’s up to him to evaluate the risk. He may be prepared to take a greater risk than you’re comfortable with. Otherwise, apart from referral to falls clinic, it’s a matter of putting in place as much as you can. I believe some phones include a falls detector (it was mentioned in an article about how earthquake warning is being tested in Greece and New. Zealand using the fall detection on mobiles - if too many “fall” at once, it’s an earthquake), would he allow you to track his phone, can he text you every day to say he’s OK - this was more acceptable to my dad as it was him being proactive.

And think hard about how much support you want to give. Don’t get sucked in to giving more support than you are happy to provide. Eg are you happy to have no holidays for the next 10 years that are more than a couple of hours drive away?

My dad used to have apparently cause-less falls. You’d see him standing perfectly OK one minute, and the next he’d sway to one side and you’d need to catch him

His blood thinners might need reviewing is he on warfarin. The doctor can look at all his meds, see if any of them need adjusting especially if he is feeling dizzy. . Ask for a referral to the falls clinic, physio and o.t can see him to assess his balance and safety and arrange equipment if he needs it. He might be safer with a walking trolley. Having a stick in one hand and a dog in the other can be pretty tricky for anyone, what happens if the dog pulls. I would probably discourage him from doing DIY until he sees the doctor.

Ask GP to refer him to falls clinic

Ask for a medication review and referral to the falls clinic.

I would imagine they will come and assess him at home. They might give him some physio exercises for balance and/or mobility equipment in the way of rails around the house, walking stick, walker, etc.

The physios where I work don't like the quad sticks so don't encourage that until he's seen a professional. Also, people need to be measured for a stick and taught how to use it. Lots of people use them incorrectly.

Agree falls clinic. And look for a scooter, you can get off road ones as well. It might take a bit of convincing but he will maintain his freedom more.

Obviously as above - GP and falls clinic to understand why and help prevention.

For when out and about - needs to take his phone and know how to call for help if he falls. If he walks far consider what3words app and teaching him how to use it so you/the emergency services can find him easily.

Careline/home falls alarm is useful and very cheap and easy to get set up (multiple available with various features, google is your friend here)

While waiting for falls assessment and for (hopefully) information about falls classes teach him how to get up safely from a fall - useful videos here from my area www.surreyheartlandsccg.nhs.uk/your-health/family-health/maintaining-independence-and-wellbeing-for-guildford-and-waverley-residents#education. Google Falls Prevention for his local area and see if anything local comes up.

Be prepared - the more often he falls the greater the chance he will damage himself, and eventually a fall is going to need an ambulance either to get him up (because your mum can't) or because he may have hurt himself. And that's absolutely fine.

Just arranged a care link bracelet for my mum, £2.50 a week that recognises a fall and calls for help.