Problems with Balance, Walking, Falling an Early Sign of Dementia

Balance and walking problems often present before the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment,Alzheimer's ordementia.By Bob DeMarcoAlzheimer's Reading RoomWhen I first came to Delray Beach to take care of my mother, she was falling down all the time.Once,I found her laying in the parking lot and she could not get up. She was shaking like a leaf.Another time she fell down and broke her little finger. It took us over ten hours in the emergency room that time around. She would fall and couldn't get back up.Learn More -Care of Dementia Patients at HomeThis might sound hard to believe but after I got my mother into the gym, she did not fall once for over seven years, and not until the last three weeks of her life. I took my mother into the gym for the first time when she was 88 years old.What is the Difference Between Alzheimer ’s and DementiaOur exercise included the treadmill, a series of stand up-sit down exercises I developed, and weight training on the kinds of machines you normally see in a gym. As time went on my mother could not walk very far (more than about 10 feet) without assistance (like holding on to my hand or arm) or grabbing whatever she could find to hold on to as she walked (like a chair or the wall).Subscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading RoomEmail:Nevertheless, she kept on walking. I am still grateful, and amazed, that she did not fall.Article -Dementia Patients Can Deceive Others to the Distress of Their CaregiverI would suggest as soon as you seeproblems with ...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimer care care of dementia patients dementia care early sign dementia falling down family caregiving help alzheimer help with dementia care problems with balance dementia Source Type: blogs