Lately, Mom seems to shuffle more and more. By that I mean that instead of taking strides, when walking, she shuffles along, barely moving her feet forward.
In some respect, it is good. I mean this way she is moving slow enough, to perhaps feel any bumps or at worst, not lose her balance. And that would help reduce the risk of falls, or would it?
Could the slow shuffling be a sign of her losing her focus on walking?
Worse is that it is truly exasperating. To follow behind, at a pace that makes a snail seem like a NASCAR racer. I wonder too, if it is a result of fear? The fear of falling, breaking something else, that has her moving so timidly? Yet when asked, she says she is not shuffling, but if you watch, you know it isn’t true. Her toes barely move past the other foot, before she stops and moves the other foot, to the same minuscule degree.
Course, when she has the need to go to the bathroom, man can she motor down the hallway, for the most part. I wonder too, is it because someone is behind her? I notice she moves a little bit faster, when I am not behind.
So am I the cause of her tentativeness?
The other issue, is her footwear. She normally wears a runner type shoe, but lately is taking them off, and walking in her stocking feet. Well, okay ankle socks, but they aren’t ideal for shuffling. And that could lead to a mishap too, as they slide a bit.
Whoever said this care-giving was easy, needs a good whack on the side of the head.