They dissolve without teeth.
Agree with the various people that answered.
Rent a Hoyer Lift if there is someone able to be there to operate it when the individual falls. Typically, it seems ‘outsiders’ and various rules will dictate if A happens, the B or C or D. Something has to change.
A very talented engineer (in his 40’s) who had ALS devised the lift they needed to get him from bed to w/c. He was able to stay at home until his passing in a large part because he had a healthy wife, teenage children, and a supportive community. ALS is a bigger thief than cancer in most cases.
DH was at his mother’s when she ‘fell’ out of bed (at that point, age 91 with quite a bit of dementia)- she actually had a UTI and needed the few days of hospitalization. She needed to go to skilled care because DH could not be her 24/7 caregiver, which she did get entered into skilled care within a few months. DH couldn’t lift her off the floor, but the female EMT was able to do so and had done so in the past - it is technique/skill/muscle combination and having the patient cross their arms and a short distance to getting on the transport gurney with another managing the patient’s legs.
Various calls to specific residents have a documentation trail, and communities have various regulations on how things are handled.
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My friend had H lie on the ground and demo’d how the hoyer lift worked. The aides had never been trained in using such a device and were nervous about it, though she trained them.
Yesterday afternoon, my dad’s advocate reported that they were able to transition him from an oxygen mask to a cannula. His vitals looked good.
I got to talk to him on the phone in the afternoon. He said he’s feeling better, just a little weak. His voice sounded pretty strong. I haven’t heard anything else since then, which is probably a good sign.
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They did a swallow test on my dad. It turns out stuff is still going down his airway, so he can’t eat or drink normally for 5-7 days. They gave him a feeding tube. They’ll test him next week, and said if he’s still now swallowing properly, he may need a tube inserted in his stomach.
My sister has a friend who’s a speech therapist and is asking questions about Dad’s treatment. The woman works with a doctor who is a specialist in this area, so she’s going to ask him his opinion. There’s a lot of technical stuff I’m not going into, but we’re not going to give up easily. It would not be good for Dad to have a feeding tube and not go to the dining room at his facility - that’s the main time he gets out and socializes. He doesn’t participate in all of the social activities he used to enjoy.
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I would definitely have a speech therapist and specialist intervene before a tube goes in – you are correct in that is a big step (although so often necessary) . I’d want you to feel like you had tried everything reasonable to avoid it,so even if it is necessary, you are confident.
You and your dad are amazing. Hang in there
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Thanks. Oh, and they are going to see if there could be a neurological reason for his difficulty swallowing. That was my sister’s suggestion, based on her friend’s advice. The doctor thought it was a good idea. Not sure why the family has to think of these things.
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Feeding tubes create a whole new set of issues and are truly a LAST resort. I don’t understand why the professionals don’t fully explore other options before jumping to a feeding tube. Glad more ideas are being considered.
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Today we went to have Mom’s crown (came off in July, before The Bad Fall) put back on. Dentist told her she didnt have enough tooth left to put the crown back; she ought to have a root canal to fix it. From the corner where I am staying out of her line of sight, I sotto voice “and another choice would be…”
And he says oh, well, they could also close off the tooth with enamel and just be done trying to have a tooth there. Which is what we did, why is that not option #1 for a 90-something with brittle health?
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Not much of an update, as things are still the same. But, a bright spot in the midst of it all. Yesterday, with the help of the aide, we were able to get my father out of the house and into my car. I then brought my parents and the aide to my house to have dinner with my family. It was his first non-ambulance trip out of the house since May 5th and the first “normal” gathering since some time in April. It was a real morale-booster for both of them.
It’s the little things…
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That’s great! Did it take your parents time to recover from the day outside their house?
No, it actually seems to have motivated my dad. The next day he asked to take a ride with my mom in her errands. The aide assisted with getting him in and out of car, but the steps in and out of the house were easier for him. He’s had three days of clarity in a row. Waiting fir the other shoe to drop, but enjoying the stretch of good days.
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@MaineLonghorn most hospitals have a feeding team. This has folks from multiple specialties help with feeding and swallowing issues. Speech language pathologist, occupational therapist, nutritionist, neurologist. Folks are included as needed.
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My parents are long gone but I’m now caregiving for my oldest sibling. She just spent a week with me after getting out of the hospital. She also has Parkinson’s and lives alone. I’m working on getting her a caregiver and driver for several afternoons a week. I don’t think she should be driving. She uses Norco regularly on top of her Parkinson’s. I told her I’d report her to the DMV if she drives.
Both my in-laws over the last few weeks have fallen into scams. One called a number in an email that came from “the geek squad” about a subscription. Luckily she didn’t give them any information. fIL called a number that popped up on his computer telling him he was hacked along with his wifi being hacked. He didn’t give them any info but he was concerned that he couldn’t use his computer. My husband told him it was a scam. FIL said I don’t think so the gentleman was very nice. My husband suggested they call someone they use for tech support. The guy came out right away and told my FIL he dodged a bullet. Now trying to figure out ways to protect them from scammers.
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That’s a lot on you all st once. 
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I have a friend whose mom fell for that Geek Squad scam.
My sister called in a panic about this one a few weeks ago. Scam of course but convincing.
When my father was using his computer, he started to fall for one of those “Hacked…let us help” scams. When they asked for credit card number, he told them he needed to check with daughter. Hung up and called me. Phew.
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My FIL had Parkinson’s & also was on Norco. I told him the same thing. Thankfully, he did stop driving.
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Thank goodness they didn’t give info and a real tech support person came and assisted them.
Let them know “any questionable emails, do not answer w/o checking with us; do not click on anything with these emails; do not call the phone number on the email.” Things also apply to Facebook.
DH’s father was a social kind of person, and scammer calls - he would just keep them talking. However, one time he did give out his Discover Credit Card number - but realized pretty immediately that he made a mistake and Discover blocked it and issued them a new credit card/number.
After DH’s dad was retired, he liked having the bills to organize and pay, “taking care of business” - but at a certain point, he got weary of it and the son nearby set things on automatic payment. With stopping in often, and will phone calls, he kept things running there w/o issues.
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