One of my senior charges had polio as a child. As a result they have had lifelong issues with falls. No obstacles just spontaneous falls with no obvious reason. Now that we are in year 6 of a dementia dx, their physical abilities are weakening. At this point, physical therapy seems futile to me. Falls are simply unavoidable. They also can’t remember to push the call button for help. Given this situation, would skilled nursing be any better than assisted living? They will continue to fall regardless. I want them as safe as they can be but with the current “right to fall” laws it’s seems like the differences would be minimal. Thoughts?
https://www.marchofdimes.org/news/after-effects-of-polio-can-harm-survivors-40-years-later.aspx
It’s so hard watching people fall. My mom falls due to Parkinson’s disease and would not be able to walk without the aid of her walker.
It is sad that some people end up in wheelchairs as a last resort due to falls. It’s safer then continuously falling though.
Falls are unavoidable, this is true, very sadly; but the "right to fall" - which is only intended to be a thought-provoking way of describing a person's right to personal liberty - still has to be balanced with their right to be safeguarded. There are legitimate "deprivations of liberty" but these have to be formally applied for and approved; and I suspect avoidance of paperwork and protection of behinds have more to do with it than any sincere belief that it's a good thing for people to have the right to get out of their chairs and land on their noses.
My actual knowledge is limited to the UK process,* but I did look this up for one of the States not long ago and was not surprised to see that the issues discussed (and legislated for) were pretty much identical.
*
Hazard observed
Potential harm assessed
Proportionate preventive measure proposed
Deprivation of Liberty order applied for
DoL Safeguarding body considers application
Order approved or refused
There is also provision for an applicant - nursing home manager, e.g. - to gain an emergency DoL to prevent immediate harm to the adult to be safeguarded, which can then be approved retrospectively.
When you boil it down: nobody really thinks a vulnerable adult should be cheerfully encouraged to chuck himself on the floor, but everybody wants to be sure that busy nursing homes aren't just tying people into wheelchairs to err on the safe side. The result is endless fun for bureaucrats, committees and draughtspersons.
Have you discussed this with any facilities you might have earmarked for him/her? They might be more imaginative in their falls risk management than you fear.