A Place for Mom's Family

Hello I,m new here, Elizabeth , I take care of my dear mother. She has alzheimers, parkinsons disease and is in her 70's. It took me awhile to be able to sign in, wouldnt work at first. but I,m here. I was just wondering if a  stationary bike would be a good idea for her?  Would love your input. Thanks Elizabeth.

Elizabeth...welcome our site, glad you made it!  In regards toa stationary bike I would speak to her doctor first.  The best thing to do is to request a physical therapy evaluation and then the PT will make the best referrals for your Mom and her exercising. 

Hello Maria, Thank you so much for the welcome and your input. It means alot.  I'll try to get a physical therapy evaluation. Although I dont have high hopes for that. I have spoken to  her doctor before kinda about or relating to that. But all the feedback I get from him is put her in a home. But I'll try. Thanks  Elizabeth 

Elizabeth...sometimes we encounter doctors or others that just do not listen to us or our needs. 

At A Place for Mom...this is our passion!  If you call the number below tell us where in Georgia you are....they will put you in contact with the local advisor.  One of the Georgia advisors can guide you and give you additional, local information about physical therapy in the area.  I am not suggesting you go against doctors advice, but my thought is that possibly the Georgia advisor can get you in touch with some of our home care partners or senior living communities.  They will be wonderful resources to you and your mom!  They all typically know how to get PT in place and getting the doctors order for it as well.  So....use the resources we have....they are the best in the world and will certainly reach out to help if we ask them to!

Here is the second benefit to talking with an advisor and our partners....you can gather information about the different services in your area for the future.  While discussing the needs of your mom right now, you can work with your A Place for Mom advisor to gather information on the different services available in Georgia...when you feel it is time for Mom to use them.

I wish you the best and will keep you in my thoughts today....not to worry though....once you call that number you will feel 8000 x's better!  I promise! 

1-877-MOM-DAD9
(1-877-666-3239)

Hello Elizabeth!

I read your question regarding the stationary bike for your mother and it brought back memories of my own mother's experience with this type of equipment.  I am concerned about whether or not you are the best one to be able to guage what your mother's health fitness level is right now.  You want to also be careful to rule out any exercise that will potentially aggravate certain heart, bone, joint, or any number of other conditions she might have.  For this reason, I would caution against beginning any form of exercise before your mother has been evaluated a doctor.  I think PT has to be prescribed by a doctor for that very reason. 

I will refer here to my mother's attempt to use a stationary bike at home before consulting her doctor; the bike ultimately had to be scrapped because it aggravated her Angina - a serious heart conditon that can be brought on by vigorous exercise or sometimes by simply walking uphill.  So you can see why it is important to seek the advice of a medical doctor regarding your mother's overall fitness level before starting any new exercises.  You might want to consult a Geriatric Medicine specialist for a comprehensive evaluation of your mother's meds, her mental status, and her physical well being - as looked at in total.  

As a Public Relations Director for The Arthritis Foundation, I found the very best exercise for most people is the Arthritis Foundation's Aquatics Exercise Program.  You can call your local Arthritis Foundation office to find out where this program is offered in your area.  Every instructor has been trained by the Arthritis Foundation and these gentle and soothing exercises are done in a warm water (therapuetic temp) pool.  It is a delightful experience for the participants, so it may very well "bouy" your mother's spirits as well as her physical health!

 

Hello mariab, I will keep the number in mind. I took her to the doctors this morning. just to get checkup.  She saw the nurse practioner. She'll be going back for  her fasting lab work tests. But I decided to see what she'd say to physical therapy eval.  She wrote up a prescribtion for it. said, they'll be contacting me here a day or so. So , maybe I shouldnt have put the doctor down. Maybe I just never asked for the right thing. I'll let ya know what they say.  Thanks for your help, I do appreciate it much more than you know.  Have a great day!!!! :0)   Elizabeth. 

Elizabeth!  Great to hear from you!  It sounds like you are on the right track and that you are feeling much more positive about the situation!  Please keep us all posted as I know a lot of our other families have been through this and/or still going through this and your insight will be very helpful!   Again...if you ever need someone to talk to or help navigate through your options, never hesitate to give us a call!!

 

Hello again, the advance home health care person was just here. She asked me all the questions. There gonna have a nurse a couple times  a week and then another person to do physical therapy. She said, they will try to get someone here as early as tomorrow. thats just to do evaulation. And ins will take care of all it . I am very satisfied right now at this moment and feel alot less pressure. Thanks again. I'll keep ya posted on how its going. Have a great day!!! Elizabeth 

 Hello, Thanks for your advice. she is gonna get her a nurse here a couple times a week and another nurse for physical therapy also. I'll keep ya posted. I just was talking to the advance home heatlh people just a bit ago. Elizabeth

Hi Elizabeth!

Thanks so much for your note.  It sounds like everything is moving in the right direction now, so you must be very relieved.  Please don't hesitate to contact me anytime I can be of assistance to you or your mother.

Take care,

Maggie

 

 

 Good Day,  Oh yes,  I appreciate just knowing we are not alone and advice. Thanks  Take care  Elizabeth

Hello again, been so busy lately. But its the good kind of busy. She is doing pretty good. Her PT comes about 2 to3 times a week. And he shows me what kind of exercises she can do. And he gives her homework. That of course is where I come in. I just keep telling her, the more you move it, move it, the better it will be. She always laughs when I say that. lol. We were having trouble with BM's , but phillips milk of magnesia is some wonderful stuff. Her nurse recommended that. We just got thru with some walking exercise, she moved fast down the hallway. Anyways I'll keep in touch. Enjoy talking to you and appreciate your advice. Take care,   Have a wonderful day. Elizabeth

Hello Elizabeth,

It was GREAT to get your good news!  Your mother is really very fortunate that your homes are close enough to allow you to be so involved.  Being available to help her with her PT exercises, and everything else that you are doing for your mother, will improve the quality of her life more than you may ever know!  

The physical side of your work out with mom is super important of course, but it sounds like you and she are having a darn good time just hanging out together too!  THAT'S WHAT ADDS REAL QUALITY TO LIFE!!

Great Job!

Maggie

Thanks for such a positve response Maggie!  Great point!

Elizabeth (great name, by the way),  Neurologists are now finding that dancing, especially the tango, is very beneficial to people with Parkinson's disease.  Recent data were presented at the national conference for neurology, and there was a lot of chuckling and skepticism at first.  By the time the speaker was finished, he had several offers from foundations to grant him money to do more research. 

 I know it might sound strange, but think about it -dancing is more fun that a treadmill or even physical therapy, and it can be much more motivating.  The tango, it seems, requires more footwork and that may be why it is so valuable in treating Parkinson's disease. Also, the social contact can't be discounted. 

 Check it out and let us know how it works. 

 Take care of yourself,

 Beth Goethe