Alzheimer's & a broken hip

My mom first showed signs of Alzheimer's in 1992, and in 2002 I moved her into a dementia care home. In June 2007, she fell and fractured the ball of her femur, so she's stuck in bed for at least 3 months. In this video clip, she's dosed up on morphine and having a fine ol' time.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Alzheimer's
• fractured
• hip
• dementia

[debakke]

My mother also fell and broke her hip and femur and suffers with AD. She was physically quite healthy and within 1 wk of surgery was walking with an aide and a walker. She had to be restrained to her bed ato keep her in it as she didn't know why she was in the hospital. We paid for "sitters" 24/7 to sit with her and keep her company to make sure she didn't do anything physically dangerous to get out of bed which could have seriously hurt her. God Bless your family and wonder how your mom is.

[peoples74]

@debakke

My mom is still alive despite the ravages to her brain that Alzheimer's has inflicted. She's forgotten how to worry, so she's amazingly happy all the time, a state I'm grateful she's attained.

[janaki68]

I feel so much for you and your family. My mother-in-law broke her hip in a home (she has Alzheimer's) and watching her in pain was the worst. I hope your family stays strong through this journey.

[peoples74]

Thank you,janaki68. Fortunately, when my mom broke her hip, the doctors were big believers in aggressive pain management, so she suffered very little.

Of course, she continues to decline mentally. She can no longer speak at all, she just makes noises. She hums, she beep-beep-beeps, she repeats nonsensical rhyming syllables.

Amazingly, she seems happier now than she's been in a decade. Though it's hard to see her so diminished, we take joy in her happiness, which we can read in her face.

[Cat9928]

I love her face at the end, she seems like a sweetie! She reminds me of my grandma, who has alzheimer's

[peoples74]

Thank you, Cat9928. My mom really *is* a sweetie. Her fractured hip is now fully healed. But after four months of being bed-bound, she's forgotten how to stay balanced. If she stood up to walk, she'd fall down and break another bone.

So from now on, she's confined to a wheelchair. It would be sad if she was distressed, but she's forgotten about walking now, and is happy just sitting and humming.

[debakke]

I'm glad t hear about your mom. My father died of the same disease 18 months ago and it's been tough. My mother can still speak and loves to sing. It's been about 7 years since her diagnosis. She walks without a walker now (incredible!) although I wish she remembered to use it more! Your mother has lived longer with AD than anyone else I've heard about. While some may think that this is cruel and draining, you seem to have just integrated it into your ife. Your strength is an inspiration

[debakke]

I'm glad t hear about your mom. My father died of the same disease 18 months ago and it's been tough. My mother can still speak and loves to sing. It's been about 7 years since her diagnosis. She walks without a walker now (incredible!) although I wish she remembered to use it more! Your mother has lived longer with AD than anyone else I've heard about. While some may think that this is cruel and draining, you seem to have just integrated it into your ife. Your strength is an inspiration.

[debakke]

I'm glad t hear about your mom. My father died of the same disease 18 months ago and it's been tough. My mother can still speak and loves to sing. It's been about 7 years since her diagnosis. She walks without a walker now (incredible!) although I wish she remembered to use it more! Your mother has lived longer with AD than anyone else I've heard about. While some may think that this is cruel and draining, you seem to have just integrated it into your ife. Your strength is an inspiration.

[Cat9928]

Oh, I empathize with oyur situation, but I am glad that she is happy. That's really all we can do for alzheimer's patients and family members; keep them happy and cared for. Good luck to you, your family and your mother