Falls

[BlairWit]

Oh my gosh! Just last Thursday evening (4 days ago) my darling lady was standing at the kitchen sink, turned around to wipe the refrigerator door handle and kept on turning and falling until she was on the floor. Landed on carpet and apart from the fright and being a bit sore we both thought she was ok. WRONG! That night she complained of pain in the pelvic area and a sore wrist. Bear in mind that we are in Level 4 of COVID lockdown. By morning we put in a call to the local hospital to see if we were doing the right thing or should we crank up the urgency. They sent an ambulance and later that day I was advised the her wrist was broken and a cracked pelvis and a suspected broken ankle. Thankfully the ankle did not confirm as a break. Now, 4 days later, she is still in hospital, I cannot visit. Where I am going with this is that we are both asking what we could have done to stop this happening. Apart from the obvious of not letting her get up and clear down the dishes (which she really wants to do as I cook the meals and we are a team) I'm not sure where we go from here when she comes home. The final diagnosis of PSP was late last year and we don't really know what stage she is at. This is the first major fall and we are scared for the future. Thanks for this opportunity to write and reveal. BlairW

[Tillytott54]

Sorry to hear this ,it is horrible when the falls cause damage . The only solution that I have found in order to cut down the falls or to make them safer is supervision ...it does however take a bit from there independence but it can keep them as safe as possible .. make sure that you speak to the hospital and an occupational therapist and physiotherapist ,ensure they understand and now what they are dealing with ,all too often they send our loved ones home thinking that it was just a fall and not fully understanding the enormity of the disease ...I wish you both luck ,I'm sure some other people on here will have some good advice too. Take care of yourself aswell .

[BlairWit in reply to Tillytott54]

Thanks for your response and understanding. I spoke with the hospital today and it sounds like they will be sending an occupational therapist to our home. So that will be a relief.

[AJK2001]

Poor lady. OTs can advise on aids which may help - maybe a perch stool, rather than standing doing the washing up? Physio will be important to get her back moving again. Though it's scary when these falls happen, if someone can keep moving it is so much better for them in terms of their overall health. My Mum walked with support to the bathroom until her last couple of days. It wasn't the safest thing to do with regards falling but I am sure it helped keep her well in other ways. You can get knickers with pads in them to protect hips from falls.Also ask them to check she isn't suffering from osteopsorosis - she did alot of damage in that fall, so it might be something she needs medication for.

Hope she is able to come home soon

[BlairWit in reply to AJK2001]

Thanks for your response and yes, you are right, she does have osteoporosis. She has just been advised that it is unlikely she will be coming home this week.

[daddyt]

So to hear about the fall... it could have been worse. It's scary just the same. You may want to consider having an OT come in to review some strategies and fall prevevtion measures to minimize the injury potential.

Tim

[Ange57]

Sounds like you’ve been unlucky with the fall, my wife has PSP and has been falling for 5 years so far the worst was two cracked ribs. The falls tend to be when turning, or sitting down, turned to sit on the loo and fell sideways into the empty bath, 4cm cut to head after hitting head. My point is that even with support handles everywhere she still manages to fall, we are now at stage where any movement in or out of the house has to be assisted.It is hard work and very tying as she cannot be left alone.

[BlairWit in reply to Ange57]

Ouch! for the cracked ribs. I can see that it's going to get progressively (and that's what the first 'P' in this damn disease stands for) harder from here. Still, that's what those vows from way back meant. 'In sickness and health' 'Till death do us part'

[ConcernedEx]

As anyone and everyone who reads these posts- our hearts break. Given you’re a team cooking- maybe going forward your wife could sit and prepare/cut up the food- then you cook. When she asks about doing dishes you can say “you're my princess and I don’t want you doing dishes anymore - make it about your wishes without mentioning her limitations”. Sometimes things are better without so many words- let her feel she’s doing what you want and not doing dishes.

Preventing falls? Im not qualified to even give an opinion.

Always share your thoughts and feelings here. No judgement and only encouragement.

It’s so gut wrenching and everyone knows it.

Hugs from NY, USA

[bazooka111 in reply to ConcernedEx]

Great advice

[BlairWit in reply to ConcernedEx]

I like the advice. Good idea. Thanks

[Nanny857]

Hello BlairWit. I’m so sorry your darling lady has received this diagnosis and for you too, as it affects the whole family. I’m glad you found this forum as it was a great help and support to me when I was caring for my husband.

Unfortunately the falls come without any warning but your OT can suggest equipment that can help now and plus any adjustments needed in the home eg handrails, removal of rugs as they’re a tripping hazard. I’m sure others here will come up with more ideas for you.

I wish your good lady a full and speedy recovery from her injuries.

Lots of love Nanny857xx

[BlairWit in reply to Nanny857]

I think (hopefully) the OT will visit before discharge. Just heard that it will be some days before release.

[Nanny857 in reply to BlairWit]

I have sent you a message. Just click on “Chat” at top of the screen to view. Hope it helps.

[oilman1]

Sorry to hear about the fall but you will see that it comes with the disease. I had the OT come out and give us suggestions and we removed the carpets, installed some hand rails, etc. but the wife is now at the stage where none of this really helps. The only thing that really works is constant supervision which will get very tiring. Even with supervision there is still the chance of falling. Just the other day I left the wife at the bathroom sink for about 30 seconds to turn down the heat on the stove and came back to find her on the floor bleeding and in pain. A trip to the ER to stitch the head and numerous xrays and scans. The last scan showed a fractured back which was causing her the pain. Difficult times!

[BlairWit in reply to oilman1]

Difficult times indeed. It's not always easy to be staunch at times like this when you need to be the one who can be relied upon. I wish you good fortune,

[Stephanielayell82]

Seek a movement specialist most therapist don't understand completely about this disease. Some neurologist have wonderful recommendations for movement disorders specialist. OT will give good advise depending if this is a downward spiral that will get worst. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[BlairWit in reply to Stephanielayell82]

Thanks for your helpful response

[honjen43]

Hi BlairWit. Just catching up with your wife's falling! Not a good time to have to be in hospital at present!! Hope she is well away from Covid!Pleased to hear she will get an OT assessment. I suggest you should make sure this is begun while your wife is in hospital. It seems to have parts. First part, she will be assessed as to what additional aids (furniture, etc) she will need. They are usually ready to take home, so bring a big car! Second part is home visit.

I found the timing between leaving hospital and getting an OT home visit can be a bit long. That means you could be doing battle alone until OT gets there! I would suggest you arrange a date for day after return BEFORE wife leaves hospital!

Happened to me after surgery and I spent a week without help (apart from family!) when I really needed it.

Have you been in touch with Parkinsons Association? I found they were helpful with hubby; dancing was something he could do as he was thinking about music rather than moving - and someone was holding him too. However, not a lot of help in Level 4! They might have some ideas on stability tho.

Hubby was given exercises by OT. He never bothered with them as he didn't see the necessity! However, once he found he was losing muscle and stability - and an OT nurse visited regularly! - then he did them!

I tried to 'second guess' the next perceived problem and start the process in motion before it was required. Had ramp 'work in progress' and shower assistance before hubby felt he needed it. Sadly, he was hospitalized before it was in place and it never happened.

If house/home help available or offered, then take it!! I know it is an "invasion of privacy"! It will give you a bit of free time and time with your wife instead of doing chores. Should be available on ACC! See if you can get the same person each time if for shower help, as that means you won't have to explain PSP every other day!

So keep doing your best to help and support your wife - as you are. You can only do your best!!

Hugs

Jen xxx

[BlairWit in reply to honjen43]

Thanks for this very helpful reply. I shall start contacting the relevant people tomorrow.

[Martina_MP]

You can be right next to a person ready to help, and they may still just suddenly fall, or keel over while sitting. You can try to anticipate and plan, be present and attentive, and make the environment as safe as possible, but don’t beat yourself up when she falls, because it is bound to happen, and just takes a very quick moment. You can’t give your complete attention 100% of the time. My mom has fallen several times with me and my dad but never with a caregiver. Supervision clearly helps, but you can only do your best.

[BlairWit in reply to Martina_MP]

Yes, you're right. But I'm the guy who was there and missed. Thanks for your post. She is still in hospital and as she has no memory of feeling giddy we were wondering if perhaps it was a TIA as there is some history. However heart has checked out ok. Thanks again. BlairWit

[CarertoPSP]

If she is still able to get up by herself and therefore at a high risk of falls then I suggest you contact your local authority for an OT visit from them (different to the hospital OT) and ask them that you need to be put in touch with your local Telecare department for a bed sensor/ chair sensor/ floor sensor (whichever one you need) connected to a pager which you carry around with you and are alerted if she has got up. You can also get a falls detector. You can get a floor hospital bed that can move right down to the floor and you can then lock this position so she cannot move it back up. This type of bed also comes with a thick mat so that if she so much as rolled out of bed she would land on a soft mat. You can get a tilted chair on wheels which prevents her getting up without calling you first. We also got a load of call bells from amazon stuck near bed/chair/toilet so anytime she needs assistance she just has to press the button and you can hear the ring around the house. If she doesn't like that and prefers to call for help you can get a voice amplifier and place near her when she wants to call you. Carpeting the house helps too. This all really helped us until my mum is no longer able to walk without assistance so now she requires constant supervision.

[BlairWit in reply to CarertoPSP]

Thanks for response and advice. In hospital at present with cracked pelvis and broken wrist. Once discharged and that won't be until Auckland, NZ gets out of COVID level 4 lockdown and then I understand the Occupational Therapist will visit here to assess the situation.