She has had 4 inpatient hospitalizations and 2 surgeries-most recently she broke her femur and is recovering - and 3 rehabs since April 28th of this year. My husband and I just remodeled our home to accommodate her (stair chair-lift, walk-in shower, railings on all walls, bed rail, etc). She and a live-in caregiver moved in with us last Saturday. She forgets she can't walk without her walker and assistance sometimes. The past 3 nights she has woken up confused, once sitting up in bed trying to get up and just this morning scooting to the end of the bed to get around the rail (the bed is pushed against the wall on one side) and managed to fall. Apparently she is ok this time but we need to prevent falls. The surgeon said if the rod or screws in her hip/leg move or pop out she will be in a wheelchair permanently. Plus she has exhausted her 100 Medicare days and needs to remain hospital-free for 60 consecutive days for them to renew. We have a baby monitor but no one heard her scooting down the bed, only the fall. Short of wrapping her in bubble wrap and putting a helmet on her (kidding) how can prevent this? We do not want her placed in a nursing home. We promised her plus the ones in our area we've researched and they are poorly rated. My husband and I are in debt so neither of us can quit our jobs to help out more. Oh, and we're newlyweds-7 months.There is no one else who can help. Does anyone have suggestions of something we've not thought to try? Thank you! !
You decided you can do a better job with Mom and in your home than a care center would do. And maybe you are right. You invested in the modifications to make the environment safer for her. You have a full-time caregiver. I commend you. But in a care center there are three shifts of people who look after the residents 24 hours. Each shift comes in, stays awake, does their work, and goes home. They have a life outside of the caring and that enables them to focus on the caring job fully while they are doing it. In order to handle this aspect of caring better than a professional care center does it seems to me you need more staff! I understand about the costs. I do. But your question is how can you prevent falls. The answers that will help reduce the risk of falls may not be free.
If mom has just moved in with you, her getting up at night may lessen as she gets used to the setting. And you can discuss with her doctor the danger of her getting out of bed on her own and ask if anything might help her sleep through the night.
You are newly weds. You are considering spending the night in your mother's room, all night, every night. What is wrong with this picture?
If mom gets up in the middle of the night and wants to get out of bed the caregiver should be awake to keep your mom safe. I understand the caregiver needs sleep too but why else do you have her but to protect your mom? Can you do two caregivers in 12-hour shifts? The night caregiver would stay awake in case your mom wants to get out of bed.
The hourly rates are more expensive than live in. We pay over $6,000 per month. Hourly would being it to over $7,000 per month. Assisted living may be an answer but is even more expensive. My mother's finances were cut in half by a relative which I just found out.
I will look into bed alarms and maybe mats. I may sleep in her room.
Thank you all again.
Thank you again.
But we also need to understand even a paid Caregiver can become burnt out after awhile. That is why there is such a huge turnover of workers.
I know about burnout. We've been seeing to my mom's every need at hospitals and rehabs and picking things up nearly every day -she remembered she needed or wanted something 1.5 hours each way to bring it to her. And taking over her house responsibilities and all of her bills. It's overwhelming. We are so blessed with this caregiver who wants to be with my mom and help and do things like manicure her nails. It made my mom feel special.
God bless all those souls who give loving care..