Guest guest Posted June 3, 2012 Report Share Posted June 3, 2012 gary - you're not crazy - very loving and fullfilling your marriage vows " in sickness..... till death do us part " God bless you ________________________________ From: " LBDcaregivers " <LBDcaregivers > To: LBDcaregivers Sent: Sunday, June 3, 2012 5:26 AM Subject: Digest Number 6972 There are 2 messages in this issue. Topics in this digest: 1a. Update on Bob From: Mayhew 1b. Re: Update on Bob From: gary dale Messages ________________________________________________________________________ 1a. Update on Bob Posted by: " Mayhew " pmayhew53@... pmachkovich Date: Sat Jun 2, 2012 5:18 pm ((PDT)) Hi All, My husband Bob is in a nursing home now as he could never learn to walk again after his repeat hip surgery in April The anesthesia really took his mental state way down. He could not understand enough to cooperate with PT to learn to walk with a walker again. Also his legs are somewhat contracted at the knees and he cannot straighten them even though the did six weeks of stretching and TENS unit electrodes to stimulate his muscles. Anyway, the nurse called again about 5 PM to tell me they found him on the floor next to his low bed on the fall mat again this afternoon during rounds. This is the second time in a week this has happened. They told me he is not hurt. I said to check him over very well. I told the nurse they should keep Bob up in the wheelchair close to the nurse's med cart all the time and not put him down for a nap in the afternoons any more. Apparently he is getting physically stronger, but is mentally out of it. They tell me he is always trying to wiggle out of his wheelchair also. By law they cannot restrain him here. Any suggestions for keeping him safe from more falls? Thanks, Pat M. 58, Wife of Bob, 76 dx PD 2003, LBD 2009, now in a nursing home. Messages in this topic (6) ________________________________________________________________________ 1b. Re: Update on Bob Posted by: " gary dale " gary.s.dale@... gary.s.dale@... Date: Sat Jun 2, 2012 8:13 pm ((PDT)) Pat, sorry to hear of your husband's decline. how about bed rails that go up and down. he wouldn't be able to roll out of bed. certainly that can't be considered restraining. it is for the patient's safety. sometimes i have to use the gaiter belt to hold my wife Kay (age 59 for 1 more week) in the wheelchair, when she has the " Lewy Lean " . I also had a bad month last month with kay- i am making my list for the brilliant dr. (ha ha). she tore one of her nails all the way back, it was only attached at the nail bed. so off to see the podiatrist the 18th. she doesn't use utensils much anymore. she crumples to the ground, with weak legs, more often now. her left hand is now useless as it justs hangs at a 90 degree angle. caregiver thinks a small stroke may have happened- so now she has one good hand to hold grab bar as i have more weight to hold up . she is 182 lbs. i guess i better start working out. all this in 3 years. she was driving, walking, talking, etc. in 2009. has anyone heard of this kind of decline , this fast , with LBD? this is a terrible disease.I, like probably most of you, want to keep my wife (LO) at home till the end. i suppose this is a stupid idea. hang in there, you all, and take care of YOU, also................. Subject: Update on Bob To: LBD_caringspouses , LBDcaregivers Date: Saturday, June 2, 2012, 5:18 PM Hi All, My husband Bob is in a nursing home now as he could never learn to walk again after his repeat hip surgery in April The anesthesia really took his mental state way down. He could not understand enough to cooperate with PT to learn to walk with a walker again. Also his legs are somewhat contracted at the knees and he cannot straighten them even though the did six weeks of stretching and TENS unit electrodes to stimulate his muscles. Anyway, the nurse called again about 5 PM to tell me they found him on the floor next to his low bed on the fall mat again this afternoon during rounds. This is the second time in a week this has happened. They told me he is not hurt. I said to check him over very well. I told the nurse they should keep Bob up in the wheelchair close to the nurse's med cart all the time and not put him down for a nap in the afternoons any more. Apparently he is getting physically stronger, but is mentally out of it. They tell me he is always trying to wiggle out of his wheelchair also. By law they cannot restrain him here. Any suggestions for keeping him safe from more falls? Thanks, Pat M. 58, Wife of Bob, 76 dx PD 2003, LBD 2009, now in a nursing home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 3, 2012 Report Share Posted June 3, 2012 gary - you're not crazy - very loving and fullfilling your marriage vows " in sickness..... till death do us part " God bless you ________________________________ From: " LBDcaregivers " <LBDcaregivers > To: LBDcaregivers Sent: Sunday, June 3, 2012 5:26 AM Subject: Digest Number 6972 There are 2 messages in this issue. Topics in this digest: 1a. Update on Bob From: Mayhew 1b. Re: Update on Bob From: gary dale Messages ________________________________________________________________________ 1a. Update on Bob Posted by: " Mayhew " pmayhew53@... pmachkovich Date: Sat Jun 2, 2012 5:18 pm ((PDT)) Hi All, My husband Bob is in a nursing home now as he could never learn to walk again after his repeat hip surgery in April The anesthesia really took his mental state way down. He could not understand enough to cooperate with PT to learn to walk with a walker again. Also his legs are somewhat contracted at the knees and he cannot straighten them even though the did six weeks of stretching and TENS unit electrodes to stimulate his muscles. Anyway, the nurse called again about 5 PM to tell me they found him on the floor next to his low bed on the fall mat again this afternoon during rounds. This is the second time in a week this has happened. They told me he is not hurt. I said to check him over very well. I told the nurse they should keep Bob up in the wheelchair close to the nurse's med cart all the time and not put him down for a nap in the afternoons any more. Apparently he is getting physically stronger, but is mentally out of it. They tell me he is always trying to wiggle out of his wheelchair also. By law they cannot restrain him here. Any suggestions for keeping him safe from more falls? Thanks, Pat M. 58, Wife of Bob, 76 dx PD 2003, LBD 2009, now in a nursing home. Messages in this topic (6) ________________________________________________________________________ 1b. Re: Update on Bob Posted by: " gary dale " gary.s.dale@... gary.s.dale@... Date: Sat Jun 2, 2012 8:13 pm ((PDT)) Pat, sorry to hear of your husband's decline. how about bed rails that go up and down. he wouldn't be able to roll out of bed. certainly that can't be considered restraining. it is for the patient's safety. sometimes i have to use the gaiter belt to hold my wife Kay (age 59 for 1 more week) in the wheelchair, when she has the " Lewy Lean " . I also had a bad month last month with kay- i am making my list for the brilliant dr. (ha ha). she tore one of her nails all the way back, it was only attached at the nail bed. so off to see the podiatrist the 18th. she doesn't use utensils much anymore. she crumples to the ground, with weak legs, more often now. her left hand is now useless as it justs hangs at a 90 degree angle. caregiver thinks a small stroke may have happened- so now she has one good hand to hold grab bar as i have more weight to hold up . she is 182 lbs. i guess i better start working out. all this in 3 years. she was driving, walking, talking, etc. in 2009. has anyone heard of this kind of decline , this fast , with LBD? this is a terrible disease.I, like probably most of you, want to keep my wife (LO) at home till the end. i suppose this is a stupid idea. hang in there, you all, and take care of YOU, also................. Subject: Update on Bob To: LBD_caringspouses , LBDcaregivers Date: Saturday, June 2, 2012, 5:18 PM Hi All, My husband Bob is in a nursing home now as he could never learn to walk again after his repeat hip surgery in April The anesthesia really took his mental state way down. He could not understand enough to cooperate with PT to learn to walk with a walker again. Also his legs are somewhat contracted at the knees and he cannot straighten them even though the did six weeks of stretching and TENS unit electrodes to stimulate his muscles. Anyway, the nurse called again about 5 PM to tell me they found him on the floor next to his low bed on the fall mat again this afternoon during rounds. This is the second time in a week this has happened. They told me he is not hurt. I said to check him over very well. I told the nurse they should keep Bob up in the wheelchair close to the nurse's med cart all the time and not put him down for a nap in the afternoons any more. Apparently he is getting physically stronger, but is mentally out of it. They tell me he is always trying to wiggle out of his wheelchair also. By law they cannot restrain him here. Any suggestions for keeping him safe from more falls? Thanks, Pat M. 58, Wife of Bob, 76 dx PD 2003, LBD 2009, now in a nursing home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 4, 2012 Report Share Posted June 4, 2012 Actually, at least in Minnesota, bedrails on both sides of the bed are considered restraint. The nursing home my mom was at used half-rails that helped a bit but she still ended up on the floor. There are a couple of things that contributed to Mom's falls, that sound exactly like what Bob is experiencing. The patient to aide ratio doesn't always allow a response as quickly as the patient would like. This is especially a problem when it comes to toileting. When Mom had to go, she had to go. And she couldn't see any reason to wait for a half-hour (it seemed to her) before an aide got a chance to help her. It looked like such a short distance that she thought she could walk it. She couldn't and was often found on the floor mat. Going from a full size or larger bed to the bed most nursing homes have (I'd call it cot size) isn't easy. Mom was an active sleeper. She would eventually roll over so far that her feet and legs were dangling over the side of the bed. It was just a matter of gravity at that point and she eventually would just slip down to the mat. But that thinking she could handle a trip to the toilet was the biggie. And that never stopped. Also, I remember Mom trying to get to the bathroom when she was nauseous and needed to relieve her stomach (whether she wanted to or not). The natural response is to hurl yourself out of bed to get to the toilet. Hurling herself out end up being hurling herself onto the floor. There are a lot of adjustments that have to happen for both you and Bob in working with a nursing home. At home, it was a 1 to 1 ratio between you and Bob. When he needed something, you responded and he didn't need to wait. At a nursing home, it is 1 aide to several residents ratio. If that aide is helping someone else, Bob needs to wait. This is hard for both you and Bob to get used to. And Bob probably thinks it's worth trying to do it himself. This is a thought for future needs. You can't do this all of the time, of course. You have him in a nursing home for a reason. But when Mom was sick, especially sick to her stomach, I would spend the night with her in her easy chair. (I have a very understanding work situation and that was a huge help.) The aides didn't always know if or when Mom got sick, so I stayed there to be sure she was kept clean. I think it also calmed her to know I was there just for that purpose. The adjustment takes time and sometimes a lot of time. You learn that the falls are seldom dramatic. If you hadn't been there to steady him, Bob would have fallen more often at home, too. The NH is required to tell you of each fall. Don't let it shake you. Just ask about if he was injured and then, when you are with him, check him for bruises and cuts - just in case something was missed. And remember that the aides are often run ragged trying to keep up with the needs of the residents - especially at mealtime and bedtime. Try to be patient. But if something is needed, don't hesitate to mention the need. The aide might not get there right away, but will as soon as possible. Also, sometimes so many things need to be done at the same time. Being human, they might forget about one of them. It's OK to remind them, but assure them that you are doing so because you know they are so busy. Also remember that the staff will respond to a fall or other incident as soon as they know it has taken place or is taking place. Often, the entire staff will come running. That's a good thing. And, expect Bob's needs to change while in the NH. Keep communication open with all of the staff, the physician and the administration. If they know you are actively involved, they will get to know Bob better and will respond to both him and you in a much better way. Kate On Sun, Jun 3, 2012 at 7:05 AM, Hedwig Koenig wrote: > ** > > > gary - you're not crazy - very loving and fullfilling your marriage vows > " in sickness..... till death do us part " God bless you > > ________________________________ > From: " LBDcaregivers " <LBDcaregivers > > To: LBDcaregivers > Sent: Sunday, June 3, 2012 5:26 AM > Subject: Digest Number 6972 > > There are 2 messages in this issue. > > Topics in this digest: > > 1a. Update on Bob > From: Mayhew > 1b. Re: Update on Bob > From: gary dale > > Messages > __________________________________________________________ > 1a. Update on Bob > Posted by: " Mayhew " pmayhew53@... pmachkovich > Date: Sat Jun 2, 2012 5:18 pm ((PDT)) > > Hi All, > My husband Bob is in a nursing home now as he could never learn to > walk again after his repeat hip surgery in April The anesthesia > really took his mental state way down. He could not understand enough > to cooperate with PT to learn to walk with a walker again. Also his > legs are somewhat contracted at the knees and he cannot straighten > them even though the did six weeks of stretching and TENS unit > electrodes to stimulate his muscles. Anyway, the nurse called again > about 5 PM to tell me they found him on the floor next to his low bed > on the fall mat again this afternoon during rounds. This is the > second time in a week this has happened. They told me he is not hurt. > I said to check him over very well. I told the nurse they should > keep Bob up in the wheelchair close to the nurse's med cart all the > time and not put him down for a nap in the afternoons any more. > Apparently he is getting physically stronger, but is mentally out of > it. They tell me he is always trying to wiggle out of his wheelchair > also. By law they cannot restrain him here. Any suggestions for > keeping him safe from more falls? > Thanks, > Pat M. > 58, Wife of Bob, 76 dx PD 2003, LBD 2009, now in a nursing home. > > Messages in this topic (6) > __________________________________________________________ > 1b. Re: Update on Bob > Posted by: " gary dale " gary.s.dale@... > gary.s.dale@... > Date: Sat Jun 2, 2012 8:13 pm ((PDT)) > > Pat, sorry to hear of your husband's decline. how about bed rails that go > up and down. he wouldn't be able to roll out of bed. certainly that can't > be considered restraining. it is for the patient's safety. sometimes i have > to use the gaiter belt to hold my wife Kay (age 59 for 1 more week) in the > wheelchair, when she has the " Lewy Lean " . I also had a bad month last month > with kay- i am making my list for the brilliant dr. (ha ha). she tore one > of her nails all the way back, it was only attached at the nail bed. so > off to see the podiatrist the 18th. she doesn't use utensils much anymore. > she crumples to the ground, with weak legs, more often now. her left hand > is now useless as it justs hangs at a 90 degree angle. caregiver thinks a > small stroke may have happened- so now she has one good hand to hold grab > bar as i have more weight to hold up . she is 182 lbs. i guess i better > start working out. all this in 3 years. she was driving, walking, > talking, etc. in 2009. has anyone heard of this kind of decline , this > fast , with LBD? this is a terrible disease.I, like probably most of you, > want to keep my wife (LO) at home till the end. i suppose this is a stupid > idea. hang in there, you all, and take care of YOU, > also................. > > > > > Subject: Update on Bob > To: LBD_caringspouses , LBDcaregivers > Date: Saturday, June 2, 2012, 5:18 PM > > > > Hi All, > My husband Bob is in a nursing home now as he could never learn to > walk again after his repeat hip surgery in April The anesthesia > really took his mental state way down. He could not understand enough > to cooperate with PT to learn to walk with a walker again. Also his > legs are somewhat contracted at the knees and he cannot straighten > them even though the did six weeks of stretching and TENS unit > electrodes to stimulate his muscles. Anyway, the nurse called again > about 5 PM to tell me they found him on the floor next to his low bed > on the fall mat again this afternoon during rounds. This is the > second time in a week this has happened. They told me he is not hurt. > I said to check him over very well. I told the nurse they should > keep Bob up in the wheelchair close to the nurse's med cart all the > time and not put him down for a nap in the afternoons any more. > Apparently he is getting physically stronger, but is mentally out of > it. They tell me he is always trying to wiggle out of his wheelchair > also. By law they cannot restrain him here. Any suggestions for > keeping him safe from more falls? > Thanks, > Pat M. > 58, Wife of Bob, 76 dx PD 2003, LBD 2009, now in a nursing home. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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