Walks with a shuffle

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over 9 years, said...

has to be coaxed to move at all, and now only does so,slowly, with a walker. Bumped his head falling trying to move just from bed to chair, so needs gentle help at all times.....fragile, but so far nothing broken.....


over 10 years, said...

I was not sure if it was the illness or muscle waste now I feel I know what it is


over 10 years, said...

Thank You It really just began to start (Shuffle). Did not understand why. Also pacing walks often forgetting why looking in room more often.


almost 11 years, said...

Thank you for all the help I get from your e-mails I think they are just great Adrienne, Dublin Ireland


almost 11 years, said...

Heavens Helper, You have a wonderful attitude in helping your person with dementia. Thank you for sharing your insight. God bless you Poco


almost 11 years, said...

Your timing was perfect in sending this info. On our walk tonight it was very evident that my husband who is living with Alzheimer's began to shuffle. He held quite snugly to my hand. It was almost uncomfortable. He also miss judged the curb at one point and would have stumbled if he hadn't had my hand so securely. His perception is getting more and more off. I was saddened to read, and silently acknowledge that he's slipping more firmly into moderate stage. He does have an eye exam coming up next month. I've shared this info with his day program.


over 11 years, said...

Whenever I take my lady out of the house to walk, I always take the walker/cart she can sit on and I can push, if need be. She resists every single time, insisting on walking with her cane. I just tell her I promised her daughter I would always take it with me, in case she needs it. My lady doesn't like it, but I just walk along with my fingertips on the cart so she can see how easy it is. And one time I did have to push her home but, of course, she doesn't remember that when she's resisting having the cart with her. Isn't it a wonder, how we're created, where we can have similar experiences that are totally individual?? Our God is a mighty God ~ imagine, He made us in His image! Have a Blessed day, and many more blessings to all of you. Heaven's Helper


almost 12 years, said...

mother is 91 and in later stages is wearing rubber soled bed slippers as we also have CHF and swelling. She will not use a cane, walker or wear a lifeline, never remembers it and thinks it chokes her. What type of shoes do you recommend if tennis shoes with Velcro are too sticky on wood and linoleum floors? She is shuffling and very , very slow, I always keep a hand /arm around her...maybe a Dr. Scholls ? Any advice...falling is my worst fear with her...have removed throw rugs, most rooms carpeted her place is all on one floor and we have hospice.


almost 12 years, said...

I was slow to see how Mom was showing signs of Alzheimer's (I should've been more aware since when I realized that it was affecting her). I gave up my day job writing grant proposals for a county agency to take care of Mom & made sure she ate well & didn't have accidents, etc. I dressed her well when we went out for lunch in a restaurant. She wandered away from the house where she & my Dad had lived for many years & where I was taking care of her, but she wandered away & luckily a neighbor alerted me that Mom had wandered to that neighbor's house & the neighbor called me at work & I resigned my paid job in Broome Co. to take care of Mom as long as she needed me. My Mom & Dad ran a music store in Johnson City, NY for 9 years & then retired so that my Dad would have fewer responsibilities over his wife's dementia. Sadly Dad died in 1988 from internal injuries when he didn't use his seat belt. I left a good paying N.Y.S. job in Albany in the late 1980's. I think it was a good choice. My older brother had died in 1985 so I was the sole living child to help my Mom. She was a wonderful Mother--the best I have ever seen and I miss her every day of my life.! Susan M. Hesse~


over 12 years, said...

Vision is the main problem. Have the opthalmologist check patient eyes. An example: From kitchen to garage there is a 2 two steps concrete stair down to garage. I noticed that if you leave a patient walk with cane down to garage it is a sure fall. Why? Because person low vision and concrete of the steps match in color between them and to the garage floor color. A person can get killed with this type of fall since she does not distinguish the steps and she misses them. Solution: Paint redwhite stripes the steps so they are clearly distinguished one from the other. The person knows in which step she is going down(up). I took this idea from the local YMCA where different areas of the gymn are separated by angle type low metal barriers. I saw guys tripping badly in going from a section to another . Management put colored red/white stripes in bars so the person slows down and see the bars. Great idea Joseph


over 13 years, said...

That what is going on with mother is normal and we are doing all that can be done. Confirmation of what we're experiencing and our management of same. Thanks!


over 13 years, said...

My Husband John is bedbound, and has been for the last five years. so the shufflng walk and losing balance happened before he was bed bound.


over 13 years, said...

We noticed a few months ago that my mother was beginning to hesitate when she was walking--maybe not quite shuffling but not walking as easily as she had been. And at first we chalked it up to the Alzheimer's. But then we noticed a few bumps on one of her feet and took her to a foot specialist. He diagnosed the problem, had special shoes made for her (paid for by Medicare!), and that changed everything. She was much happier and walked much more easily (though she hadn't been able to articulate the problem herself). Just a good reminder that it's not always the Alzheimer's to blame.


over 13 years, said...

Great points. The hardest part of this, though, is overcoming the pride issue in the person. Grandpa didn't understand that he couldn't safely navigate without a cane, and refused to use one because "those were for old people" (he was 87!) There were many times that I held my breath as he tripped over the entrance to the garage. I learned to be very close by to steay him in case of a stumble.