one step at a time

• By Sleeplessnight
• Reply 3327058
• August 28, 2012 at 2:34 am
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My husband shuffles his feet but notice it more at night. We remind him it pickup his feet so he won't fall. His dad and his mom both shuffled their feet,they didn't have AD. I don't know how old your mom is but I think my husband does it because he doesn't get enough exercise. We have a exercise bike and his caregiver gets him on the bike every hour for 10 minutes until he has 30 mins. She also does exercises with him. My husband liked to walk but gets worn out walking. We also play ball (nerf ball) throwing it back and forth. I notice he is not as strong as he use to be. He drinks bottled water, I would find a pair of pliers on his table next to his chair. I keep them in a drawer in my kitchen. Next thing I know they were back on his table. I would ask him why he had them but never answer me. One day, I came home from work and the caregiver said, you won't believe what he did today. She said he went and got his bottled water and then the pliers to open the bottle. He couldn't open it with his hands because his hands are not as strong. He still surprise me when he does things like this. We had to laugh because he would look at us, when we ask him about the pliers, we should know they are bottle openers. Humor where would we be with out it?

• By cmn1 (Inactive)
• Reply 3327438
• August 28, 2012 at 8:47 am
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liag --

My husband shuffles, too. When I asked him why, he said he's afraid of falling. When we're outside, he always wants to hold my hand (that part's not bad -- kinda like that). His PCP did order a physical therapy evaluation which might have helped, but my husband refused to work with the therapists so I'll never know. A physical therapist might help your mother.

• By CajunLady51
• Reply 3327491
• August 28, 2012 at 9:11 am
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My 88 year old Mother in law shuffles her feet when she walks. She is afraid of falling. Her toes are curling which the doctor says affects balance. She walks with a walker in the house and a rolling walker/chair outside. She walks much better with the rolling walker and does pick up up her feet a little. The doctor has told us to keep her walking-for her to " walk, walk, and walk some more". He said once you put them in a wheelchair they forget how to walk. She also rides a stationary bicycle on days that it is too hot to walk. We have a very rigid daily routin eand stick to it as much as possible. If we deviate even slightly it confuses her and everything gets out of wack and my husband and me too. MIL has had physical therapy and it helped for a while but when it stops she reverts back to the shuffling. Her brain is just not what it used to be and never will be. This is something we just have to accept. It is just going to keep getting worse. I have a friend whose father had Alz and he got to the point where he forgot how to swallow and eventually even breath. This is such a dreadful disease!

• By Rosetazoriginal (Inactive)
• Reply 3328173
• August 28, 2012 at 1:36 pm
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Maybe some physical therapy geared to help regain a sense of balance is the thing to do. I've heard it works.

• By liag
• Reply 3339291 · In reply to 3327491 by CajunLady51
• September 1, 2012 at 1:18 pm
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Sorry . . . I haven't checked my e-maial for a few days. Thanks to all for responding.
I guess I'm experiencing the physically "getting worse" and it's tough see her deteriorate. Her toes are also curling and I never thought about that affecting her balance . . . but it makes sense. Does anyone know what are the best kind of shoes for her? She is also getteing hammer toes. Now I am a little uneasy about the wedding (in 2 weeks). I don't think she needs to be escorted (she is a grandma of the bride) down the aisle . . . but maybe I should get them in their seat early before a lot people start coming in. My dd will have a walker or cane . . . maybe my mom should use one. Any suggestions? God's blessings to all my "Inspire" friends!