Mum has progressive ms and had many falls in thus last few years, including ones which resulted in ending up in hospital. The doctors said she isn’t to use stairs any more due to poor balance and high risk of falls. Physio, OT, MS nurse said same. I was relieved as it was terrifying watching her on the stairs.
They advised her over a year ago to apply for sheltered housing. She’s finally applied a few weeks ago. She said she only wants a bungalow, not a flat, so of course will have to wait longer as there aren’t as many bungalows.
Literally nothing anyone ssys to her makes any difference. She could fall down the stairs and be seriously injured or worse. No difference, says things like " I was alright wasn’t I"
If she breaks something and you can’t care for her the only option is going to be a care home. Tell her it’s her choice, and keep reminding her. My mum broke her leg and nearly had it amputated! At different times she had different stories about how it happened. I know how frustrating parents can be!
I had the same issue with my mum. She has mixed dementia and has had very poor mobility for a few years. OT said that for her own safety she shouldn’t be using the stairs or the stairlift which was put in for my dad previously. My mum wouldn’t accept that she shouldn’t use them. Also, my dad was enabling her, refusing to accept that she shouldn’t use them and saying that he would help her to use them if needs be. She was discovered half way up the stairs and fiddling with the stairlift a few times by us and carers. She ended up in a care home because of her various care needs. She still says she wants to go home but the stairs are one of the many barriers to her going home. I know how difficult it can be when you can’t reason with your parents too. In fact, we had another stumbling block a couple of years ago as neither of them would accept that dad shouldn’t be driving (cataracts, then revoked licence). I ended up having to take dad’s car keys away! Not easy.
2 Likes
My brother had to take dad’s car away. Really sad, as he used to regularly drove from the New Forest to Malvern. I can now only drive short distances now due to painful arthritis. So frustrating, I used to drive up and down the country most weekends.
Yes, it must be so hard to not to be able to drive anymore, whatever the reason. Sorry to hear that you can’t drive as far as you used to.