99 year old Aunt entered Memory Care 3 month ago. In the beginning they just left her sit in her rocking chair - she then developed edema. Previous she was not on any medications. Now on furosimide.
Aunt wants to sit in her Mothers rocking chair not the reclining chair with elevated legs.
Per Doctor they are supposed to walk her 4x a day - doubt they can do this.
She is a very nice person, does not cause problems but just won’t keep legs elevated when in her room.
Am afraid they will ask her to leave as she requires more attention than most others and I feel they are short of help but will not admit to it.
What can be done to help Aunt do what she should so she won’t be kicked out?
Have tried many things but the rocker was her Moms and is her only memory of home which is where she would rather be.
How much care does one need to stay in their home legally? Believe it would be unaffordable for her.
What to do?
At the age of 99, I would hope that allowing her to do what she wants is acceptable to everyone.
Have you considered a palliative care evaluation?
If she's happy, isn't that enough?
I would imagine that at her age she would qualify for hospice, so why not bring them on board?
I wish you the best. Consider SNF as long as that can be arranged by her MD/or IF it can be arranged.
Am asking them for ‘hospice’ care and let sit where she wants and do what she wants since she is 99 and God will decide when she leaves this world no matter what we do. Let her go on God’s terms and hers. Amen
Not sure about hospice, which has been mentioned by others but why not ask.
The facility won't ask her to leave. A doctor can assess her for LTC if she becomes unable to walk. Then Medicaid can be applied for.
What kind of expectations can you possibly have for a LO who is almost 100 years old?
No, the drs aren't going to kick her out of her care situation b/c she can't walk and won't comply with putting her legs up. Honestly, at this point, why try to extend a life that's been lived 20 years past the norm??
Let her rock away her anxiety. Don't push the recliner idea. Give her as much joy and love as you can and don't expect ANYTHING other than a peaceful end to a long life!!!
She won't be kicked out, they understand this much better than most family members do. It is a regular occurrence.
Leave her be, don't worry about her not putting her legs up. Let her die in peace, she deserves this...exiting on her own terms.
When her Parkinson’s disease progressed she had issues getting out of her chair. I bought her a lift recliner. She loved it! Occasionally though, she would fiddle with the remote too much and nearly throw herself out of the chair! 😆
When she was near the end of her life, we didn’t push the compression stockings. She was so thin and her edema wasn’t as much of an issue anymore.
No one cared where Mom sat. The only thing at that point was to make sure she was comfortable.
At the end of her life she was completely bed bound. The staff at her end of life hospice care home made her as comfortable as possible. They would adjust her hospital bed to accommodate her.
Do they make rockers that recline? That is the only thing that I can think of.
Personally, I think her comfort is the only thing that truly matters.
She is not harming anyone.
Perhaps comfort of her Mom’s chair and reflecting on life well lived is all she needs.
let her do what she wants.
Yes rocking chairs can be hard to get in & out (or unsafe) but staff can assist. Or use a hoist if need.
Sitting in a rocking chair, using the feet & calf muscles to rock, even gently, is going to add circulation benefits. May be better than just elevating legs anyway... but regardless, what's the aim here? Preserving life or QUALITY of life?
Edit: Read all the replies now. Think we all agree 🥰