Question
I care for my 87 years old aunt.  Several years ago she had a total hip replacement on her right side.  She has been in assisted living near my home for the past two years. She had begun to experience a few falls over the past year...nothing serious....no treatment required...mostly just tumbling over while in a bottom drawer of something.
However....a week ago she fell and fractured her left hip.  It was not dislocated....but the fracture did require four pins.  The surgeon said his goal was to try and get her pain free.  He said her bones were very soft and the screws may eventually loosen or even punch through the bone.

She is starting rehab today.  She is extremely frail...weighs around 88 pounds.   5'4" tall.  Doesn't eat much at all and is suffering from major dementia and memory problems.

With that in mind....what is your thinking about long term care.....IF...she rehabs ok?  With the memory problem along with the hip situation...will she be a candidate for assisted living...or are we looking at nursing.

I know this is a difficult question but maybe you have had some experience along this line that would be helpful to my wife and I.  We are the only people she has to care for her.

Thank you
Pastor Cline

Answer
Pastor,
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you really need to discuss this with your mother's main caretarker.  efven though your mom is no longer in pain she has problems that go beyond general hip issues and I feel should be watched ih a regular basis in a group situation of professioals,  but                    please discuss with her doctor,


sharon davis