86 yr old father had fall, now in hospital feeling confused
Discussion
hi, had that call in the early hours to say my father in law had tripped over and my mum in law couldn't pick him up, got an ambulance, currently in hospital, they don't think he has broken anything according to the xray, but was in pain with his leg and shooting pains, so he was kept in last night, now they are saying he seems confused and may keep him in the weekend, feel really helpless, is there anything we should be asking for them to check in particular, appreciate they are the experts, but info is limited at the moment
Have they given him painkillers in the hospital?
My dad had a fall last year (broke his hip) and they gave him Codeine for pain relief. Sent him completely out of his tree. He thought he was in a school, that he had cancer, that a helicopter was coming to collect him and take him home...
Would have been funny if it wasn't so scary.
Once they took him off the Codeine he recovered over a couple of days and was fine.
My dad had a fall last year (broke his hip) and they gave him Codeine for pain relief. Sent him completely out of his tree. He thought he was in a school, that he had cancer, that a helicopter was coming to collect him and take him home...
Would have been funny if it wasn't so scary.
Once they took him off the Codeine he recovered over a couple of days and was fine.
thank you, think he was on something as he got quite sleepy yesterday, husband and sister were waiting to hear about the results on the xray, hung around for hours to find out that the doctor they were waiting to speak to had gone home 2 hours previously, other side is that my mum in law has memory issues, so cant really be left by herself, so getting upset about being on her own, so tryng to sort that out as well!!
Heya. I'm an NHS Paramedic, and I regularly attend falls like these.
I'm glad that he doesn't appear to be injured - often hips get broken in falls like these with older people, so that's good.
I can corroborate what's already been suggested - he's probably got a UTI. It's so common in older folk; mostly because their failing mobility means that it is a massive effort for them to get up and go to the toilet, so to save that they just stop drinking fluids, and hence UTI's become prevalent.
And as has also been said, it's incredible how doolally a UTI can send them, and affect their balance and mobility. It's common for a UTI to precede a fall.
People close to them are often convinced that there's a huge problem like a stroke or dementia - such is the change in their behaviour. So it's important not to panic at this stage - if it is a UTI (which is where my ten pounds is going) then it's easily and effectively treated with antibiotics and a few days in hospital.
I'm sure that he'll be sorted and home soon!
HTH
I'm glad that he doesn't appear to be injured - often hips get broken in falls like these with older people, so that's good.
I can corroborate what's already been suggested - he's probably got a UTI. It's so common in older folk; mostly because their failing mobility means that it is a massive effort for them to get up and go to the toilet, so to save that they just stop drinking fluids, and hence UTI's become prevalent.
And as has also been said, it's incredible how doolally a UTI can send them, and affect their balance and mobility. It's common for a UTI to precede a fall.
People close to them are often convinced that there's a huge problem like a stroke or dementia - such is the change in their behaviour. So it's important not to panic at this stage - if it is a UTI (which is where my ten pounds is going) then it's easily and effectively treated with antibiotics and a few days in hospital.
I'm sure that he'll be sorted and home soon!
HTH
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
Heya. I'm an NHS Paramedic, and I regularly attend falls like these.
I'm glad that he doesn't appear to be injured - often hips get broken in falls like these with older people, so that's good.
HTH
Several years ago when my father was struggling physically and mum was finding it difficult to look after him, father suffered a fall in the kitchen trying to get to a ringing phone late evening, iirc mum came down later and didn't have the strength to help get him back up onto a sofa. They left it till the morning. I'm glad that he doesn't appear to be injured - often hips get broken in falls like these with older people, so that's good.
HTH
Yes, his leg was at a strange angle, fractured hip.
When pestered as to why they didn't call for help/999. . . they didn't want to bother anyone. . .
Even more ironic is that my father was a GP his whole life and mum trained as a nurse.
as above, exclude the usual suspects - side effects of meds, infection etc.
Any possibility that he experienced a head injury during the fall?
? TIA.
Should also check CK (depending on how long he was on the floor) and take any precautionary measures to protect the kidneys should the levels be raised
paul
Any possibility that he experienced a head injury during the fall?
? TIA.
Should also check CK (depending on how long he was on the floor) and take any precautionary measures to protect the kidneys should the levels be raised
paul
FlyingMeeces said:
For some reason UTIs can make the most sorted of older people temporarily lose their marbles in all sorts of ways - falls, confusion etc etc. Hope he's feeling better very soon.
This happened to my mum she ended up spending 5 days in hospital where for the first couple of days it was like she had altzheimers. When my dad decided to phone the ambulance she was trying to put ice cream in the microwave at first they though she may have had a stroke.Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
Heya. I'm an NHS Paramedic, and I regularly attend falls like these.
I'm glad that he doesn't appear to be injured - often hips get broken in falls like these with older people, so that's good.
I can corroborate what's already been suggested - he's probably got a UTI. It's so common in older folk; mostly because their failing mobility means that it is a massive effort for them to get up and go to the toilet, so to save that they just stop drinking fluids, and hence UTI's become prevalent.
And as has also been said, it's incredible how doolally a UTI can send them, and affect their balance and mobility. It's common for a UTI to precede a fall.
People close to them are often convinced that there's a huge problem like a stroke or dementia - such is the change in their behaviour. So it's important not to panic at this stage - if it is a UTI (which is where my ten pounds is going) then it's easily and effectively treated with antibiotics and a few days in hospital.
I'm sure that he'll be sorted and home soon!
HTH
Doolally, is that a medical term? I'm glad that he doesn't appear to be injured - often hips get broken in falls like these with older people, so that's good.
I can corroborate what's already been suggested - he's probably got a UTI. It's so common in older folk; mostly because their failing mobility means that it is a massive effort for them to get up and go to the toilet, so to save that they just stop drinking fluids, and hence UTI's become prevalent.
And as has also been said, it's incredible how doolally a UTI can send them, and affect their balance and mobility. It's common for a UTI to precede a fall.
People close to them are often convinced that there's a huge problem like a stroke or dementia - such is the change in their behaviour. So it's important not to panic at this stage - if it is a UTI (which is where my ten pounds is going) then it's easily and effectively treated with antibiotics and a few days in hospital.
I'm sure that he'll be sorted and home soon!
HTH
Furosemide also"stops" people drinking fluids
Old people if you have a pendant alarm, wear it! If you fall over at 3:00am press it, Ray (or one of his friends) will pop round & help. Don't wait 5 hours
thank you all for your reassurances, and info, he had another cat scan today and we find out results tomorrow morning, as he still has limited movement in his leg, main concern is my mother in law who is in early stages of dementia and does not want to be left alone at night(understandingly) so my sister in-law is babysitting overnight, just finding out what help they would get if he comes out this week, starting with meals on wheels and social services, next stage would be to start looking at taking over their finances etc just to make sure they are being looked after, always knew this day would come, but forget how independent they used to be.
ok so new xray at last, shows he has fractured his hip in a couple of places!!, in at least until the weekend, then possible move to oxford hospital for a month. would any one know where we would go to try and get my mother in law looked after during this time (due to her memory/dementia status, understandably she does not want to be on her own at night but we cant leave her on her own during the day, we are really struggling to look after her as she would need to be, any help gratefully received or what our next steps should be at this awful time
speak to either the hospital social work team or the "intake/access/duty" service at her local social services department and request an assessment of her needs. under all kinds of legislation local health and social services are bound to assess need.
the duty to assess need is triggered when the authority becomes aware of a potentially vulnerable adult on their patch.
paul
the duty to assess need is triggered when the authority becomes aware of a potentially vulnerable adult on their patch.
paul
thank you for that, we have more information now regarding how long he is in for, social services appointment next Tuesday at their house, and looks as if she will be in for 2 weeks in a local care home for respite care with the help/funding of a family member so gives us some time to get every one/thing in place.
what is distressing to see how much each month they have been paying to every charity under the sun!!, soon to be cancelled by husband, as a few fine, but 20 wtf, think power of attorney is next step to safe guard them.
what is distressing to see how much each month they have been paying to every charity under the sun!!, soon to be cancelled by husband, as a few fine, but 20 wtf, think power of attorney is next step to safe guard them.
Mexican cuties said:
what is distressing to see how much each month they have been paying to every charity under the sun!!, soon to be cancelled by husband, as a few fine, but 20 wtf, think power of attorney is next step to safe guard them.
Sadly they're probably on a list Power of attorney sound sensible.
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