Dial M for Murder

Another fantastic day in the wonderful world of caregiving.  Mom had convinced herself that her left knee was too sore to support weight.  She remained in her wheelchair all afternoon, despite being in a wet, soggy adult diaper.  I tried to get her to flop on to the hospital bed:  nothing doing, so we went back to the good old upholstered chair.  She did her seated exercises, while I gave myself a 'time out' on the PC.  Afterward, I nearly got her transferrred when she began screeching that her knee locked; so I said 'flop in the upholstered chair.  She did, but face first, while I raised enough of the chair to break her fall, leaving her able to slide on the floor.

I called 911 because Mom had been a bit disoriented today:  said Augustana was in Fairfield, CT (it's in Brooklyn, NY) and that there were mice running from the floor to her spine.  She also hollered at me after falling that she had sprained her hip--EMT told her that was physically impossible. 

This fear of hers is lifelong and debilitating.  Mom has got this tremendous fear of falling.  Perhaps it's linked to the fact that my maternal Grandma died at 83, from post surgical complications after falling and breaking her hip.  Mom is 83.  Fear is like drug addiction:  the frightened person would rather give into the urge than try to remain calm.  I wonder how I can, or if I can help her.