I cannot lift my grandmother, but she keeps getting on the floor, on purpose. I asked if she wanted me to call an ambulance this morning, and she threatened to tell them that I beat her, if I did. I called paramedics to help her up, anyway, and as soon as they left, she got back in the floor. What am I supposed to do? I feel leaving her in the floor is abusive, but I have no power of attorney or guardianship to force her to get help. If she wants to lie on the floor, what can I do? She's told the police I was trying to kill her. They didn't believe her. But it upsets me to no end. It makes me want to not even touch her, anymore. I just cannot do this. What can I do?
My mother is also placing herself on the floor. I found a Hoyer Professional Advance-H Portable Lift at Patient Lift USA for $1282.67. It is portable and comes with a free body sling. Most Hoyer Lifts go for a lot more and I could not afford to pay more that the $2,000 most websites are charging. My Mom's doctors would not fill out the paperwork to pay for the lift so I put it on my credit card. Thank you for sharing your story and I hope the information on the lift is helpful.
If this was happening to me, I would talk to a county worker to get their support. Then if she kept getting in the floor, I would call the EMTs and ask them to take her to the hospital for a geri-psych evaluation. They might be able to figure out why she is doing it.
You are stronger than I am. In truth, I probably would have started to make arrangements for placement the day she threatened to make false accusations and got in the floor again.
Eh, it's a drama queen move. Leave her on the floor. If you are worried that she may be too cool, put a blanket over her, and offer her a pillow. Then shut the door, walk away and be grateful she hasn't stripped down and covered herself in vasoline. Picking her up would really be a btch then.
I don't know why it's so difficult for insurance companies to pay for a needed lift to patients with long histories of falling with or without injury. If your current doctor is aware of the falls and is reluctant to write a Rx, change doctors.
The risks involved in a caregiver trying to transfer from floor to wheelchair, or chair is too high. Risks to your loved one and yourself.
I fought long and hard to get my Mom's lift. Persevere and don't let a "I can't do that" stop you.
As for the problem of deliberately falling out of a chair to the floor... it happens. But even if it's deliberate, you as the care provider have to determine injury and provide a means of getting the uninjured off the floor.
I'm a bit nervous of those that say leave her on the floor. That's an APS reportable offense and could land you in trouble.
I saw where she is still her own guardian and all - you do need a geriatric evaluation of some sort with help to get all that sorted out. Hopefully you and Mom can cajole her into going for that, because a call to APS would be next if you can't get her to allow for appropriate care of herself!
Embarrassing right? But hilarious too. ;)
As for a getting help in the home, the falls never seemed to happen when anyone else was around ... to witness them. They mainly occurred with me in the house and her trying to move as soon as my back was turned.
No one has POA or guardianship. She's currently her own responsibility, I guess.
What did the paramedics say when they came to the house? I would have the paramedics explain to her that by causing the emergency situation on purpose she is violating the law-if she is able to understand such things. If she is not than/and also I would look for help through the community (APS?)- anyone know whom she should call for help? I am not sure. Good luck!!!! Let us know how it goes.