Elderly sister in law with sudden mobility problems

Your sil might need an X-ray on her hip and knee to check she doesn’t need a replacement. I would ask fir a referral from the gp.
A walker might help, if there’s a budget they can often be bought in charity shops for £5 or £10. They always look like new, worth a look.

I got a walker on freecycle for my neighbour. You could always put a wanted on very local facebook page or freecycle.

ask GP for urgent referral to OT and physio.
she may also need a care needs assessment by social services.

As well as having checks on her joints your SIL should have input from physiotherapy. They managed to get my mum moving again when I thought she was going to be permanently bedbound.

Also ask if she possibly has Long Covid.

There are clinics at some surgeries and help is available.

I got a wheeled walker a few weeks ago, ans gave it away as it was worse than useless.

It took up a lot of space indoors. Outdoors in the agrden and on the pavement it could not cope with rough surfaces and I found I had to lift the thing over rough bits. I should have got an expensive light weight aluminium one instead of one made of steel.

A friend uses an expensive large wheeled light weight wheeled walker to walk along the smooth pavement to her supermarket and this works for her.

If she gets a walker, she should at least get a light weight model.

First- has it being determined why and may it evolve further?

From there, decisions can be made

Have you tried phoning the ward she was on? When I was released from hospital after a fall I was told to ring the ward if I had any problems.

You could also get in touch with Community Therapy (Occupational Therapy) and ask for an assessment. They can lend a variety of aids and should be able to advise on what would be best to help her.

I have a 3 wheeled walker with a bag which is very useful. I can't manage to carry a hot cup but can carry a flask of boiling water & the cup in the bag.

It may be that she simply was much less mobile for her time spent in hospital, and she needs to build up again, or it could be much more complex.

The problem is, hospitals often treat only what took you there in the first place, then discharge when that problem is solved.

You can understand why, but...

Thank you for your suggestions. I am contacting her doctor to discuss options and getting her some help.

I know this thread is over a year old, so I hope your sister-in-law is doing better now.

But if she is still dealing with mobility issues, or if anyone else is in a similar situation, I’d suggest looking at home safety improvements before assuming she has to move or give up independence.

We went through something similar with an older family member, and the first thing we focused on was making the home safer and easier to move around in.

If stairs are the main problem, a stairlift can make a big difference. It allows someone to continue using different levels of the home without needing help every time. It also reduces the risk of falling on the stairs.

Small upgrades can also help a lot, such as:

- Adding grab bars in the bathroom
- Using a shower chair
- Installing non-slip mats
- Improving lighting in hallways and stairs
- Removing loose rugs or clutter
- Adding handrails where needed

If the mobility issue is temporary, renting equipment or buying used home modification equipment can be a practical option. Stairlift rentals, used stairlifts, portable ramps, walkers, shower chairs, and grab bars can often help during recovery without the cost of buying everything new.

Of course, sudden mobility problems should be checked by a doctor or physical therapist to understand the cause. But from a home safety side, even a few simple changes can help someone stay safer, more comfortable, and more independent at home.