My MIL is a little bit over weight @ 94, and is able to walk only with a walker very slowly.She is addicted to watching TV whether she understands anything or not, but cannot sit for a long time. WE give her TV time, once a day for 2 hours. For diaper change we have to take her to the bath room, since she suffers from irritable bowl syndrome and makes a mess often.She is unable to assist us in diaper change lying down, being unable to lift or move her body.
But at times she gets restless and gets down from her cot (unobserved, of course) and comes out. several timesshe falls down, and unable to get up on her own.Two people are required to lift her up and then lead her to the bed. But she is very very careful not to get hit on her upper body.
We have tried blocks etc to prevent her from getting down, but it is always not possible to have them. A couple of instances, we woke up in the morning to find her on the floor near the bed, unable to get up and in a mess of urine and poo. Fortunately it is a rarity, since we give her sleep aid, as per the doctor's suggestion.
Day time are still worse, i.e. when I am engaged in my own serious activity, she wants attention, calls out or just gets down . We are planning to raise the railing on all sides. Is there any way to stop her from attempting to get down? I know it is absurd to ask, but there night be somebody with the same problem, which they might have over come. Need good suggestion please.
This must be really difficult
This must be really difficult for you, Shubhankar. Lakshmi is a Rehab specialist and may be able to help you out with some suggestions.
I would recommend attaching
I would recommend attaching side rails to the cot that you can pull up when she is in bed.If you choose to use a medical cot,it will be a feature but you can get your local carpenter to fix it for you.But remember it has to be the adjustable kind that can be pulled down if you need to transfer her to a wheelchair or help her with other activities.Also,as Lakshmi pointed out, bed sores is something you need to look into.Try turning her over, changing position (sit/lie down) periodically.
Thank you Lakshmi for the
Thank you Lakshmi for the response. The answers to your question,'May I ask why you want her to be in the bed always? '
"1.is a little bit over weight ....75 kg
2.cannot sit for a long time
3.unable to lift or move her body.
4.falls down, and unable to get up on her own
5.requires 2 persons to assist her to
lift her from floor if she falls, &
when she moves around with walker,"
To top it all, I am 63 weighing 52kg, are these not enough reasons for my wanting her to stay in bed?
I am caring for my mom too,
I am caring for my mom too, totally immobile , using an air bed.The funny thing with MIL is, on her own she never lies down still, but tosses her body from side to side. No chance for bed sore etc. for at least another 5 years, if she lives that long. But when prompted to, for diaper change she can never do that, just gives up, for us to move her which is ..?? with size 40inches and heavy. Also, she gets down on her own slowly (escape artist) unobserved, but can feign inability when prompted.
Can write a book too about
Can write a book too about her personality, which influences her behavior now,but her old age as also being given up for good by her other children being very difficult to care for has been considered. Part of the cause is her on set of dementia also. Now I am trying 'action, consequence' method, warning her about the consequence of deprivation of TV time. It works at some instances and doesn't at others. It is a trial....for both. Sorry, due to the restriction of words, so many posts..
Shubhankar, thank you for
Shubhankar, thank you for taking the time to write in detail. Please don't worry about number of posts. Managing one elder person can be difficult. You are having to manage two. Hope you are taking care of yourself
I took care of my bedridden
I took care of my bedridden mother with dementia and feel for you.You have already got some suggestions above. But remember that explaining and bargaining don't work well for someone with dementia; even if she understands it at that time, she will forget it later. And this gets worse with time. Try to make staying the bed attractive by keeping her favorite objects within reach--albums, visible posters, music. Try fiddle mats. Place plastic-padded mattresses under the bed in case she falls.
Hi, it must be very tough for
Hi, it must be very tough for you .
May I ask why you want her to be in the bed always? Isn't there more risk of her getting bed sores? Would it be better for you to teach her to safely get down from the bed and sit on a chair when she wishes to?Keep the walker or some support next to bed always. Keep sturdy chair with armrest near bed for easy access.Or someone could help her to move out of bed when she wants to.
Does she pass stools/poo at a particular time of day?Like mornings?