trouble walking(3)

GardengirlPA

Hi! Mom attends a lovely adult day center program and either my sister or I drop her off four times a week and dad picks her up, and dad routinely takes her out and about in the car, but it’s getting tough due to her walking. She’s started to pull back instead of following when you lead by the hand, and sometimes when she stands, it’s as if her legs are jelly. We want to keep her walking as long as possible and I’m not sure how to help or even start to transition. Open to any suggestions

ninalu

Hi Gardengirl, 
Walking difficulty can be a feature of dementia and it can also be due to a variety of medical conditions. Has your mom had a medical visit and evaluation recently? If not, a visit with her doctor can get input and eyes on what's causing her caution / possible weakness and instability. 

My mom with Alzheimer's has had difficulty walking at different times in our journey together. Sometimes her issue has been as "simple" as fatigue and needing more rest. One time she told me, flat out, that she loves walking but because she feels dizzy so often, she's losing her confidence. 

It's so good that you are asking and looking into this! Please let us know how she is doing.

Michael Ellenbogen

WWhat are you doing to build her legs up such  as exercise?

GardengirlPA

She does steps and walks daily. She is not able to do exercise and follow in any way

GardengirlPA

She has always had (in her journey) difficulty sitting and depth perception: it takes much patience to coax and coach but we have always had success. We need her to be able to step down a step to keep her out of a wheelchair, which is our goal. We want to keep her at home as along as possible. It’s been a good five year stretch without an issue of consequence so it’s worrisome

live in daughter

Hi- our journey with our Mom's walking was a gradual one. First we battled with her to use a walker. Her gait was getting unsteady and she was grabbing on the furniture to walk around her apartment. She was hesitant to use the walker because she did not want "to get used to it". She did finally use the walker all the time. She then began to not move her feet when she was standing with her walker. She would just stand and say she couldn't move her feet.

Her hospice nurse told us that this was progression of dementia. We did everything we could to forestall the day she would no longer walk. We would give her Tylenol in the morning when she was most active so she would not have discomfort with walking.

We encouraged her to do "laps" with her walker up and down the apartment hallway. We tried to do have her do daily leg exercises as well. We would do the exercises with her so she could follow our movements.

We did prepare for the eventual day when she would no longer be able to walk. We bought a small portable wheel chair which we used to maneuver around the apartment and when we took her on outside excursions.

The day did come when she could no longer walk but we felt we prepared for that day and did our best to keep her walking for as long as she could.

Hope this helps.

mommyandme (m&m)

We are exactly where Live In Daughter describes. My mom hasn’t been to her daycare going on two weeks.  So similarities there too. Moms baseline has dropped. We’re using the transfer wheel chair much more. She’s losing her confidence. I’ve started to think of a hoyer lift when things get worse. Hospice CNA mentioned a catheter could be helpful down the line.  That’s a relief to remember that option. 

I’m planning to keep my mom home til the end.  I understand exactly what you’re going through. My thoughts are with you.

RanchersWife

We are a few steps behind you guys. Mil has horrible balance and uses a walker. She fell last week while holding onto the counter. Now her balance is worse and we have ordered a transport chair from hospice. Sometimes she sags against us. She also paces constantly. She basically bounces off the walls with her walker and gets herself stuck in corners.

live in daughter

Hi- you may want to ask your Hospice service about a Sit to Stand machine. When my Mom could no longer walk and pivot into a chair or commode, we started to use the Sit to Stand machine. It is like a ski tow lift that lifts my Mom into a standing position and then we can move the machine with Mom to get her into a chair or on a commode.

The Hoyer lift can be cumbersome and you will not be able to get your Mom onto a commode using one unless the Hoyer has an opening in it. It also takes two people to safely use the Hoyer lift but the Sit to Stand can be managed with one person.

Hope this helps.

GardengirlPA

Super helpful, all responses. We do not have hospice care yet and that’s likely the next step. DID get mom to the day center on Tuesday without major problem and mentally preparing to try again this morning, fingers crossed

mommyandme (m&m)

Live in daughter,

Sit to stand machine…Thank you! 

Mom seems a bit stronger the last couple of days. Keeping her daycare for tomorrow on the to do list. Although it’s only penciled in.  

live in daughter

Wishing you all the best- thanks for the update

mommyandme (m&m)

RanchersWife wrote:

She basically bounces off the walls with her walker and gets herself stuck in corners.

I’m sorry RanchersWife… this made me chuckle.  I pictured my mom when I read this. Thank you for sharing!