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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.
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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.
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Mostly Independent
Your loved one may not require home care or assisted living services at this time. However, continue to monitor their condition for changes and consider occasional in-home care services for help as needed.
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Falling backwards can indicate Parkinson's disease or other issues, your sister needs a medical evaluation. My mother used to fall backwards and she had neuropathy in her feet and legs which caused numbness and not knowing where she was in space, so balance issues. The old shoe man put lifts in her shoes which pitched her body forward a bit. That did help her. It might be worth a try for your sister.
She needs to be in a wheelchair. You can not stop the falls, if she is unstable on her feet. Is she falling backward when sitting on the side of the bed? My husband does that because he doesn't have the strength and balance to sit upright. I just have to hold on to him, and instruct him to lean forward, over his knees, as I place my body in front of him, so he will fall into me if he falls forward. If she is walking, do not try and catch her as she falls! You can both go down, and who's going to help you both up? You could get injured.
Recognize your limitations. Your sister may require more help than you can provide. You do not have to take care of everything for her. Her daughter is not obligated to provide for her either. If you are doing this out of love for your sister, then continue as long as you are able. When it becomes more than you can do, it is time to place her in a care home. Tour a couple, so you know what they are like. It is not as scary as some people imagine. If the cost is a concern, help her to apply for Medicaid. This is through the county health and human services division. If she is eligible, Medicaid can pay for long term care in a nursing home; there are also programs which could pay a family caregiver, so ask about that.
She should see a neurologist specializing in movement disorders (like Parkinson's, as leolonnie mentioned) and, if there is a wait for that which there probably will be, her primary care doctor asap. Some medications can also cause dizziness or balance issues that lead to falls. Does your sister use a walker or rollator? If not, you should probably get one and transition her to using it.
You don't stop the constant falls. Nor do you have to take care of your sister, just because her daughter won't. Her daughter obviously knows her limits when it comes to her moms care and perhaps you may need to learn your limits as well. Sounds like this issue will only continue to get worse and that your sister needs to be in a nursing facility where they will most likely keep her in a wheelchair so she won't keep falling, as a bad fall is often what will take a person out...permenantly.
We aren't doctors so are not able to tell you why she is constantly falling. I agree you need to take her to her primary doctor first and tell the symptoms you are seeing. From there she will hopefully be referred to a specialist.
If she is refusing to use a walker or forgetting to use one, you will not be able to stop her from falling. It may be time to place her, or hire a full-time day aid. My Aunt with advanced dementia had a motion alarm on her so that when she started to get up from her recliner, it would go off and her aid would be there to assist. In the end, my Aunt one night got out of bed and fell (at age 100) broke her hip, went into rehab to attempt to learn how to pivot on it, but continued to get out of bed.
I wish you much wisdom and peace in your heart as you look for care solutions.
Not your niece’s job to take care of her mother. Not your job either. It’s a volunteer position. If she can’t be alone without falling, she needs to live somewhere with help.
You should definitely get her to her PCP. A friend of mine was doing this and there was something the doctor did/prescribed for it and she is better. Not saying your sister has same thing, but it definitely needs to be addressed. He, too, may say it's time for next level of care that you are not qualified to do.
Agree with others that her daughter is not obligated to care for her. I'm caring for my mom, and wish all those years ago when she started to need financial help because she just figured I'd take care of her that I had walked away. When I was a teenager she asked me if I'd take care of her when she got old (what parent askes their teenager that????), and obviously from then on that was her plan. I've come to resent her immensely.
Regardless, to your situation, it's really nice that you are doing this for her, and I hope they can determine the issue, as I'm sure she would prefer to stay at home (or at least not in A home) as long as possible. Often they are not pleasant.
I was falling backwards for a couple of years, resulting in concussions, broken hips, wrist, pelvis, and numerous broken ribs. I was talking to a nurse one time and mentioned that I had lost my handwriting, She blurted out that I must have Parkinson's. The day I started Parkinson's medication (July 1, 2025), my falls stopped! So did the slight tremor in my right hand. My handwriting is still lousy, but is legible. The neurologist said my reaction to the medication was the proof of Parkinson's.
The falling backwards is a hallmark sign of Progressive Supernuclear Palsy / PSP. As does Parkinson's Disease (PD). PSP has some similarities to Parkinson’s but is a wholly different disease. PSP is more rapid symptoms. And are - to me - pretty frightening.
A young woman in another forum I’m on is going through this their 70 yr old mom.
I’m mentioning this as so often PD is the default diagnosis as it’s so common and there are drugs that can actually help with PD. PSP is in the rare disease category and what helps it is a bit different than what a PD patient would do. It does not respond to PD drugs, My point is try to get them screened for PSP as the earlier the interventions (OT, PT, swallowing strengthening) the better.
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.
Best of luck to you.
If she is walking, do not try and catch her as she falls! You can both go down, and who's going to help you both up? You could get injured.
Recognize your limitations. Your sister may require more help than you can provide. You do not have to take care of everything for her. Her daughter is not obligated to provide for her either. If you are doing this out of love for your sister, then continue as long as you are able. When it becomes more than you can do, it is time to place her in a care home. Tour a couple, so you know what they are like. It is not as scary as some people imagine.
If the cost is a concern, help her to apply for Medicaid. This is through the county health and human services division. If she is eligible, Medicaid can pay for long term care in a nursing home; there are also programs which could pay a family caregiver, so ask about that.
Sounds like this issue will only continue to get worse and that your sister needs to be in a nursing facility where they will most likely keep her in a wheelchair so she won't keep falling, as a bad fall is often what will take a person out...permenantly.
If she is refusing to use a walker or forgetting to use one, you will not be able to stop her from falling. It may be time to place her, or hire a full-time day aid. My Aunt with advanced dementia had a motion alarm on her so that when she started to get up from her recliner, it would go off and her aid would be there to assist. In the end, my Aunt one night got out of bed and fell (at age 100) broke her hip, went into rehab to attempt to learn how to pivot on it, but continued to get out of bed.
I wish you much wisdom and peace in your heart as you look for care solutions.
Regardless, to your situation, it's really nice that you are doing this for her, and I hope they can determine the issue, as I'm sure she would prefer to stay at home (or at least not in A home) as long as possible. Often they are not pleasant.
Best wishes.
A young woman in another forum I’m on is going through this their 70 yr old mom.
I’m mentioning this as so often PD is the default diagnosis as it’s so common and there are drugs that can actually help with PD. PSP is in the rare disease category and what helps it is a bit different than what a PD patient would do. It does not respond to PD drugs, My point is try to get them screened for PSP as the earlier the interventions (OT, PT, swallowing strengthening) the better.