I got Mom a whistle to wear around her neck when she goes in for a shower. I can hear it from anywhere in the house. Last night she blew it and I went in to find her on the floor. Called 911. They got her back on her feet. Long story short--she's ok today if a little sore.
I've tried for years to get Mom to carry her phone with her at all times. If she should have an accident and I weren't at home that whistle wouldn't do a whole lot of good. She is aware of the risk--we discussed it again this morning--but she doesn't carry it. Mostly she just forgets, or "doesn't think of it." Any suggestions?
The fall alert pendant, while not perfect, has worked better. Just makes sure they actually wear it.
A fall alert pendant can help, if she is willing to wear it.
It may be time when she can no longer be left alone. If she falls when you are not home, who do you expect her to call if she is capable of making a call?
My Dad is a fall risk. His answer at the cottage was to carry his car keys all the time. he figured he could set off his car alarm to get help. Yeah right a rural property and the closest neighbour worked all day. He also thought that inside, he could use the furniture to help himself back up. He did not consider that he could just as easily hit his head on the way down.
I talked to my brother, POA and Dad lives with him, about an alert system. They complained that it was too expensive at $50 per month. I asked my brother how much it costs him to take a day off work to take Dad to the hospital. It put the cost in perspective, but they still do not have one.
Fall alert buttons that detect falls and automatically respond are a must in certain situations. Your mom's being one.
Try to find an easier, safer, way for her to get to the bathroom. Or would a sturdy bedside commode work? Add sturdy hand rails within reach of her toilet, shower and sink. Sounds like she could perhaps use a "shower chair" for bathing... sturdy, comfortable and quite convenient, but hand-held shower at chair height would be needed. (Also make sure shower floor is really slip proof)
Talk to a home health care nurse or agency...not to hire them...just to get suggestions. You will have to do the planning for her, but don't expect her rely on her phone.
My mom fell last year; thankfully we were home and heard it. But she was on the floor, she had hit her head against the wall when she fell and her phone was about 5 feet from where she was lying; and she was in such a daze I doubt it even would have been able to operate the phone.
We got my mom a Life Alert system, and she has used it. It's easier for her to get hold of the pendant than to drag her phone out of her pocket and try to remember how it works.