Depth Perception and dementia

Depth Perception and dementia

Many people with Alzheimer’s dementia are unsteady on their feet. Issues with Depth Perception is a common problem.  Traveling by Walker or Rollator while they walk gives them a sense of security when they’re otherwise unsteady on their feet.

The stress of walking through a park or shopping center for only a short while, often leaves someone with Alzheimer’s fatigued because their thoughts are compounded with other issues. Often, Alzheimer’s is also accompanied by Parkinson disease which leaves the patient unsteady on their feet.

Those with Alzheimer’s and Dementia can suffer from depth perception as well, which leaves them fearful of walking. They become unsteady on their feet and walk with a shuffling gate, pushing their feet forward rather than picking them up.  Because Mom had issues with depth perception, she would hold my arm in a vise-like grip whenever we went for walks.  She needed the comfort and security of a walker even though she had no disability and was perfectly capable of walking.

My Mom also suffered debilitating bouts of vertigo. This made it even more important that she have something to help balance herself, especially in case of a fall. At first, Mom absolutely refused to use a walker. She thought it tagged her as disabled and she would never admit to any sort of disability.

Even when we could coax Mom to use the walker, she would forget she had dizzy spells unless she was in the grip of one. Later in her illness when she lived at the Group Home, most of her friends used walkers or rollators. They preferred the steady reassurance and Mom finally consented to a rolling walker of her own. It was a relief to me because the alternative seemed a serious fall and possible broken bones.

Most of the ladies preferred the Rollator or Rolling Walker with a seat and basket. The ladies carried purses, toys and assorted toiletries in the basket while the staff created brightly colored name tags for each one.

It was common to find these ladies in the Group Home, assisted by the sweet nursing staff, decorating their walkers with ribbons and bows and flowers to coordinate with the current holiday. Despite their memory issues, there was never confusion about which walker belonged to whom, nor the season of the year as their rolling walkers shouted a brightly painted name tag and Bow for every holiday.

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A few Mobility Aids

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