Wheelchairs

[Guest guest]

Hi All

I haven't posted for several months but I have been reading most of

the e-mails. This nasty desease has been progressing in Mum and we

have reached a stage where her NH is recommending a wheelchair. Mum's

mobility is much worse and she has fallen several times. 90 percent

of the time Mum cannot manage to get out of bed or her chair but 10

percent of the time she will have a short burst of mobility that gets

her up and she then trips over her feet.

The Nursing supervisor is going to arrange for someone to come and

access Mum and give us advise on what sort of chair etc. but I

wondered if you experienced people had any advise, caveats etc. to

offer. I suspect that Mum's wheelchair needs will be constantly

changing from here on in. Even though the Government pays 75% of the

cost of the wheelchair I don't think we want to be trading it in every

couple of months. I don't also think we necessarily need a new

wheelchair. There must be all kinds of places that have used

wheelchairs - I'm just not too sure where to look.

We have taken Mum off the Seroquel so she is only on Aricept for the

LBD now. Mum sleeps off and on most of the day. I know Mum has lost

weight - she has difficulty eating even if someone is helping her. I

thinks she is worried that she will choke on something. It is really

tough to see this once vibrant woman just shrivelling up before my eyes.

from Cresswell ON Canada

Long distance CG to Margaret (Mum) aged 76

Lives at The Briton House, Memory Floor, Toronto

DX Early Onset AD & PD approx. 2002

DX LBD 01/2005

Current Meds: Aricept, LD ASA, Levothyroxin, Calcium Suppl.

Was on: Sinemet, Excelon, Seroquel

Was given Risperdal in NH for a few weeks (Feb '05)

Haldol several times in Hospital Jan 05