Community Chat

[LTT1]

@Tinkrbl44@Yardlie

I have heard others say that they will "take the walker along" to hold bags when shopping with their nana.  The nana always succumbed to tiredness when on a shopping trip and then sat in the walker and let her granddaughter push her.

The doctor chat or nurse chat always seemed like a good idea to me.  That way, you don't have to be the "bad guy" ... 

If your mom enjoys going out, then set the parameters under which you will take her.  If a verbal battle ensues, stay kind but firm. HTH

[MacDUFF]

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@Mama Mia wrote:

The tennis balls are to make the walked go easier than the rubber cups that are put on them. I found these great little plastic slides that look like little skis for my husband's walker. About 6.48 at Walmart. 

mm

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@MacDUFF wrote:

Serious question:  Would someone please explain a walker with two wheels in front and tennis balls in the back!???  How does this make any sense??  I truly don't get it.

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Thank you, @Mama Mia...but, but...now I don't get the purpose of rubber cups either!   Why not just four wheels!!??

[Mama Mia]

Four wheels would be too dangerous. 

mm

[MacDUFF]

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@tedEbear wrote:

@Yardlie-----My DDMiL absolutely HAD to use a walker.  She lost 1 leg to amputation...  

 ...

    2..It was what OLD PEOPLE used, nevermind she was old.  She might be down 1 leg, she wasn't OLD!!!!!!!  ...

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@tedEbear

May I be just like your DDMIL!!    Down, but not out, for as long as possible!  

[SeaMaiden]

THe stubbornness is what keeps them alive and going......it will also be their demise most likely. A fall, a broken hip, usually the end for most. But, on the light side at least they got to do what they wanted. At 91 what  are you trying to do? She has already out lived most people.  Take away her joy, threaten she can not go out without a walker....fight that stubbornness....and she will go down hill anyway.

 My Husbands Mother is also stubborn.....and I was so worried about her living alone miles away.....I decided that she is her own person, and my worrying is not going to save her if she chooses to walk on the wild side. We make suggestions and she usually does not take them.  You can lead a horse to water......bla bla bla. 

[MacDUFF]

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@Mama Mia wrote:

Four wheels would be too dangerous. 

mm

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@Mama Mia

Ah ha!  You're talking about the walkers that don't have brakes!  I completely forgot about those!  Du-uh!

[Yardlie]

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Tinkrbl44

Another option is to get someone else to be the bad guy and read her the riot act .... one of your RN sisters ... or even her doctor, who should be given permission to give her a very strong talking to.    Perhaps she'll be less feisty with a doctor?

Anyway, I'm sending you good thoughts ... good luck!

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@Tinkrbl44, do you know what we get from the doctors, the physical therapists, the nurses, etc? They all say that she needs to use the walker. Then my mother starts arguing it. I say that I agree with them, and the doctors, therapists, nurses, etc. all say, "Well, we will let you battle that out." They just won't be the tough guy. That really bothers me, as I was a health professional, and it is the health professional's responsibility to deliver the tough information sometimes.

[AKgirl2]

my dad lived with us for @4yrs...he fell and broke his hip, after being in a nursing home and rehab for 3 months, he needed to use a walker...when he came home, he used it about 50% of the time and felt that since he was just going from room to room he was "ok" without it.  In time, dad went into assisted living, and even though he had continued falls (cracked ribs, bloody elbows, etc.,).

That walker 'never' became his friend...he just really disliked using it.

[Moonchilde]

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@SeaMaiden wrote:

THe stubbornness is what keeps them alive and going......it will also be their demise most likely. A fall, a broken hip, usually the end for most. But, on the light side at least they got to do what they wanted. At 91 what  are you trying to do? She has already out lived most people.  Take away her joy, threaten she can not go out without a walker....fight that stubbornness....and she will go down hill anyway.

 My Husbands Mother is also stubborn.....and I was so worried about her living alone miles away.....I decided that she is her own person, and my worrying is not going to save her if she chooses to walk on the wild side. We make suggestions and she usually does not take them.  You can lead a horse to water......bla bla bla. 

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I think what most people in the OP's situation try to do is balance safety and reasonable care in a life under *their care* with the person's happiness. If the person lives in their own home, their immediate decisions affect only themselves. If the person lives with a caregiver, that caregiver is responsible if something happens "on their watch."

A doctor, hospital or welfare agency could consider a fall or serious injury to be the "fault" of the caregiver if push came to shove (no pun intended). So you try to balance safety and danger to self with the person's happiness. It doesn't always work out. 

Some are caregivers while still working themselves. Some don't have unlimited funds to hire babysitters when they can't be, or don't want to be, tied to home 24/7. Caregivers deserve a life.  There's a lot to consider.

[Moonchilde]

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@Brinklii wrote:

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Tinkrbl44

Another option is to get someone else to be the bad guy and read her the riot act .... one of your RN sisters ... or even her doctor, who should be given permission to give her a very strong talking to.    Perhaps she'll be less feisty with a doctor?

Anyway, I'm sending you good thoughts ... good luck!

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@Tinkrbl44, do you know what we get from the doctors, the physical therapists, the nurses, etc? They all say that she needs to use the walker. Then my mother starts arguing it. I say that I agree with them, and the doctors, therapists, nurses, etc. all say, "Well, we will let you battle that out." They just won't be the tough guy. That really bothers me, as I was a health professional, and it is the health professional's responsibility to deliver the tough information sometimes.

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Oh, that sux!