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Dear Fearful00, There are so many things that can cause your mom to fall. I would suggest you get her to the doctor as soon as possible especially since she has hit her head. She could get a concussion which could become serious. This isn't normal. P.S. Is she weak? Is she taking a new medication like a sedative? Does she have any hip or knee problems? Whatever the case may be, she needs to be fully evaluated.
I hadn't thought of that, Chicka, and as an old RN too long retired, I should have. Medications can often cause orthostatic hypotension, meaning the elder gets up and the blood pressure plummets. It can also be due to dehydration, and we lose as elders our drive to drink fluids, to know we need them. I think there are so many reasons, guessing just not good enough. Too many falls and at some point a hip fracture will happen.
Be very cautious. Your mom needs a through examination. I just went through this with 2 family members. Both were examined by their primary care doctors and never received a diagnosis. They got their diagnosis while being admitted into the hospital.
Their medicines was what was causing the falls. With one of my family members, they were on heart medicines and it was causing there heart rate to drop too low.
6 times in a few days is a LOT of falls Dehydration can be a cause as could medication. Vision problems, vertigo or an ear problem. UTI. Small strokes. I would contact her doctor right away and inform them of this particularly if she has not had a history of falling in the past. And if she falls again before you get in touch with the doctor don't brush it off call 911 and get her to the hospital they will probably do the scans that the doctor would order faster than trying to make an appointment to have them done. And they will also do the lab work the doctor would order. If you do call 911 make a list of ALL medications and supplements she is taking and bring it with you.
This isn't a question that anyone on the forum can answer for you. You need a medical diagnosis. This is very abnormal in someone so young. There are many many conditions that rob one of balance. While aging itself gives us less balance, there is also a whole array of illnesses that affect balance. And there can be help with medication and with physical therapy. You need diagnostic workup. There could be multiple small strokes, Parkinson's, early Lewy's dementia, and many other things. A scan will need to be done and a workup by MD and physical therapists. Good luck. Hope you will update us. This is NOT NORMAL.
You need to take her to the emergency room like yesterday.
There are lots of very serious issues that can cause this and they are more treatable when addressed earlier than later.
Dont buy into the fear created by the fake news about ERs and covid. They are doing everything they can to protect people, probably safer in a hospital than the grocery store. Get her to medical assistance NOW!
I know I have already commented on this post but I have been thinking more about it and wanted to add.
One of my family members that kept falling, we took her to her doctor and she ordered a scan. Nothing was found.
Then one day, my family member "passed" out. Her husband took her to the ER and still they could not find anything. The doctor was going to discharge to go home. Thankfully, her hospital knew something abnormal was going on and he questioned the doctor about the seriousness of the situation.
It was then, the ER doctor agreed and decided to admit her a few days to run some test. That is how they found out her heart medicines were causing her heart rate to drop extremely low.
So, thinking more about this: Low BP vaso-vagal syncope (various causes, many cardiac related) strokes low heart rate and needs a pacemaker
In short, this is not something to "put off" until her next doc appointment. Especially with head trauma, she needs to be gotten to the ER and make SURE that they understood that she both fell AND hit her head. Two separate things, both of which need to be looked into.
I currently have three family members with significant fall histories. One of them is a substance abuser (failed rehab, etc) and I'm sure this is why she falls. Another is a stubborn elder who refused to follow any safety rules/precautions and wanted to do whatever she wanted to do whenever she felt like it - and kept falling (while on blood thinners). The third is a woman with significant mental health troubles and from whom I am estranged. I am therefore unable to help her, but she's had multiple falls that I know of - two of them with serious injury and 911 call for each. At the time, she claimed "no one knows" why she fell all those times. Not sure if the story has changed any since then as her stories often change. Anyway, falls can be literally anything and once one has happened, my experience tells me there will likely be another unless the reasons are investigated. I'm concerned about the number of falls you're reporting in a short time - it's a lot by anyone's standards. Please have her looked at very soon - especially with the blows to the head.
Fearful00 As you can see there are so many things that can cause falls that to wait may be taking a risk that may lead to damage that can not be reversed. While I said to contact the doctors office and to call 911 if she falls again, this might be something that you would want to take her to the ER yourself even if she is just a bit dizzy. Even if she does not say anything if you see her even a little off balance bring her in. Do not wait for a fall. The next fall may not just be head trauma but a fractured hip, leg, arm, shoulder....
There are a number of things that could be making her fall. Seeing a neurologist would be a good idea. I've had relatives that were falling a lot and they ended up having ALS. Parkinsons causes people to fall as well. Hoping for both of your sakes it's something simple and fixable but you should have her checked out as soon as possible. Has there been any change in her voice? Does she drop a lot of things? Trouble swallowing food?
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
There are so many things that can cause your mom to fall. I would suggest you get her to the doctor as soon as possible especially since she has hit her head. She could get a concussion which could become serious. This isn't normal.
P.S. Is she weak? Is she taking a new medication like a sedative? Does she have any hip or knee problems? Whatever the case may be, she needs to be fully evaluated.
Be very cautious. Your mom needs a through examination. I just went through this with 2 family members. Both were examined by their primary care doctors and never received a diagnosis. They got their diagnosis while being admitted into the hospital.
Their medicines was what was causing the falls. With one of my family members, they were on heart medicines and it was causing there heart rate to drop too low.
I hope all will be well with your mom.
Dehydration can be a cause as could medication.
Vision problems, vertigo or an ear problem.
UTI.
Small strokes.
I would contact her doctor right away and inform them of this particularly if she has not had a history of falling in the past.
And if she falls again before you get in touch with the doctor don't brush it off call 911 and get her to the hospital they will probably do the scans that the doctor would order faster than trying to make an appointment to have them done. And they will also do the lab work the doctor would order. If you do call 911 make a list of ALL medications and supplements she is taking and bring it with you.
There are lots of very serious issues that can cause this and they are more treatable when addressed earlier than later.
Dont buy into the fear created by the fake news about ERs and covid. They are doing everything they can to protect people, probably safer in a hospital than the grocery store. Get her to medical assistance NOW!
One of my family members that kept falling, we took her to her doctor and she ordered a scan. Nothing was found.
Then one day, my family member "passed" out. Her husband took her to the ER and still they could not find anything. The doctor was going to discharge to go home. Thankfully, her hospital knew something abnormal was going on and he questioned the doctor about the seriousness of the situation.
It was then, the ER doctor agreed and decided to admit her a few days to run some test. That is how they found out her heart medicines were causing her heart rate to drop extremely low.
Please, have your mom tested.
Low BP
vaso-vagal
syncope (various causes, many cardiac related)
strokes
low heart rate and needs a pacemaker
In short, this is not something to "put off" until her next doc appointment. Especially with head trauma, she needs to be gotten to the ER and make SURE that they understood that she both fell AND hit her head. Two separate things, both of which need to be looked into.
No one can know, but we all know that she needs immediate medical attention to avoid more serious issues.
I know a woman that broke her neck when she fell from dizziness, it has not been pretty for her and her recovery is going on year 3.
You are so correct about clarifying that there are falls AND head injury. Two very good reasons to get to the ER in and by themselves.
As you can see there are so many things that can cause falls that to wait may be taking a risk that may lead to damage that can not be reversed.
While I said to contact the doctors office and to call 911 if she falls again, this might be something that you would want to take her to the ER yourself even if she is just a bit dizzy. Even if she does not say anything if you see her even a little off balance bring her in. Do not wait for a fall. The next fall may not just be head trauma but a fractured hip, leg, arm, shoulder....