for all with older or infirmed relatives and friends....

[TklDuo-Ann]

It's been an interesting day. We got a call at about 2 this afternoon that my grandmother was about to be rushed to the hospital. She'd fallen yesterday morning around 6am when she went to the cellar to do laundry. She layed there, lapsing in and out of consciousness until the paperboy noticed that she hadn't retrieved her paper or mail yesterday and was smart enough to not simply brush it off. She'd broken her hip and collar bone and couldn't even cover herself with the blankets she'd been carrying to keep warm, much less summon help. If he hadn't taken the initiative to check up on things, she'd still be laying there.

Now this may seem like on of those "thank God!" stories. And, in a sense it is. But, it's also a very frustrating and infuriating situation for me personally. I've been begging them to get a life alert system for years...knowing that something like this could happen one day. Had she had that, she'd have had help within minutes of her fall instead of a day and a half later. So, I'd like to warn others.

If you have a relative or friend who's older and/or has health issues of any kind....PLEASE look into getting life alert for them. For those who are not familiar with these systems, the generally have a tabletop base unit and a pendant the person wears with a button to push if you need help. So, if something like what happened with my grandmother should occur, you can simply push the button and a series of contacts begins that will get help to them quickly. With the things that are available these days, there is no reason for something like this to happen. You may make the difference by saying something to your loved one. Check it out!

Ann

 

[bratgirl365]

Sorry to hear about your grandmother...how is she doing?
Good advice...today I'm sure they have all kinds of alarming devices out there. Keep us posted.

 

[Mephistopheles]

Sorry for your grandmother, but it is even more important to get a regular checkup on osteoporosis when you're aging (especially post-menopause women) for that's most likely the reason why she broke her hip.

Because of certain stuff involving hormones etc bone density can dramatically decrease after the menopause (although it also affects men) leading to a very fragile skeleton, resulting in serious injuries when falling of stairs etc.

 

[Sultrybrunette]

Thanks for the info Ann. I have seen them advertised on tv and wondered if they actually worked. I will definitely keep it in mind as my mom gets older. I hope your grandma is ok. As hard as it is to realize you cant do what you used to be able to do, hopefully she will realize there are some limitations.

 

[TklDuo-Ann]

Thanks folks. She's actually in surgery as I write this. They wanted to give her time to stabilize a bit before repairing the hip. If all goes well with that and she has none of the possible complications from the shock to her system, etc. she should be okay. Heart or kidney failure and pneumonia are all possibilities at this point. The fact that she's 89 years old and this is her first major incident is a plus. But, she has chronic problems that will all play into the mix. The next 72 hours will likely be the most crucial. Time will tell. I just wish I wasn't 6 hours away!

Meph... As you state, osteo does decrease bone density and is absolutely something to watch out for. And she does have regular checkups. But, she broke the hip, not the pelvis. (Most people equate the two, though they are different. The pelvis is the bone. The hip is the joint between the pelvis and femur. The dislocation of that joint is what took place and what is refered to as a broken hip.) It may have been a factor in the fracture of the collar bone, though. Either way, more good advice.

Ann

 

[General Zod]

Sorry to hear about your Grandmother Anne I'll say a prayer for her Hopefully she'll be better soon I know from experience it is no fun laying on the ground from having bobes etc break Back in Dec of 2002 I slipped on ice and broke my left ankle Thankfully someone drove by and saw me laying there and was able to call for an ambulance

Whether it's 5 minutes or 5 hours you are laying there it feels like an eternity

 

[steph]

Wishing you best Ann. Hope she has a speedy recovery~I'm sorry to hear about it.
XOXO

 

[Mephistopheles]

Meph... As you state, osteo does decrease bone density and is absolutely something to watch out for. And she does have regular checkups. But, she broke the hip, not the pelvis. (Most people equate the two, though they are different. The pelvis is the bone. The hip is the joint between the pelvis and femur. The dislocation of that joint is what took place and what is refered to as a broken hip.) It may have been a factor in the fracture of the collar bone, though. Either way, more good advice.

Ann

Well, my father's into some research involving loss of bone after hip-surgery, and it is proven that increasing bone-density prior to surgery decreases the loss of bone after replacement of the hip.

 

[TklDuo-Ann]

Well, my father's into some research involving loss of bone after hip-surgery, and it is proven that increasing bone-density prior to surgery decreases the loss of bone after replacement of the hip.

Sounds reasonable. Is he an orthopedic specialist?

For those who asked for an update....

Surgery went fine. They had to put in a couple of pins. She's in serious but stable condition. If things look okay today, she'll be shifted from ICU to a regular room. Once she's healed enough, it's off to the nursing home for rehab. Depending on how well she recouperates, she may stay there or go home with help later on. Thanks to all who've asked here and in PMs.

But, the main point of this thread remains that people should be sure that their loved ones have a way to get help when needed. Let's not lose track of that.

Ann

 

[Sultrybrunette]

I am really glad to hear that things went well with the surgery. Hopefully recovery will go well and she will be up and around soon. Thanks for the update.

 

[blondie46]

Hi Ann, I'm glad to hear your grandmother's surgery went well, and I hope she'll be back home soon. The alert system sound like a good idea for my father too. Though they live together, my mother is the full-time caregiver, and she's very tired. Thanks for the reminder about infirmity, older adults in general, and I realize I need to help her out more. They sure took good care of me when I was little.

 

[chickles_:)]

Hiya Anne!

From us to you!
--and to your family!

This kind of situation puts a whole lot of stress on an entire family. I remember watching my grandmother go through falls and similar conditions.

It's so hard because you want to allow older people to have the dignity of making their own decisions but they don't always realise or acknowledge their waning faculties and are not always aware of the anguish they put their younger relatives through. Yet which of us would like people whose nappies we changed to be giving us orders about where we will live, what we will eat and when we will get up and go to bed. it must be heartwrenching to live through that elder stage of life.

Still, i agree with you Anne. If we have the responsibility of caring for our elderlies which i strongly believe we do, then they have to cut us some slack even if it isn't easy for them.

One thing i recall from when my grandparents were still alive was the doctors explaining to my parents that sometimes bones crack or joints come loose before a fall. And it's the break that causes the person to collapse, adding to the injury.

Oh Anne, my heart and prayers are with you!

Many blessings, and thank God, your grandma, by the sound of it, is past the worst! 🙂


Chickles_🙂

 

[TklDuo-Ann]

Thanks. She's now in a regular room and may be shifted to the nursing home on Saturday if all goes well.

Here's a bit of a comic relief. (Let me preface by stating that my grandmother is normally a total stiff...and often quite nasty to people.) My brother, who happened to have gone up for a visit anyway, went to see my grandmother yesterday...just after she'd been moved to her new room. The nurse came in while he was there and asked what had happened to her. With a totally straight face, my grandmother looked at the nurse and told her that my grandfather had beat her up. Then she looked to my brother and asked if they'd caught him and arrested him yet because she definately wanted to press charges this time. My brother, normally very quick on the draw, was so shocked that he couldn't even respond. So, it blew the ruse. But, it was a funny moment...esp. for her. Perhaps this experience has lightened her up a bit. lol

Chickles...I've worked in home health care most of my life. So, I know the truth of which you speak. Giving up ANY sense of control is very difficult to accept. The trick is often to suggest it as a good idea for "those who are alone" and let them think of using it for themselves, just as a safeguard. I've been successful with this on many occassions. Then again, there are some folks who will never accept that they can no longer do for themselves. In those cases, it's often helpful to make it look like they're doing YOU a favor by letting you help them. When I was still in highschool and helping elderly neighbors, it was for "a school service project". One way or another, we could usually get folks to cooperate with their own care. It's just a matter of how they're able to accept the idea.

Ann

 

[chickles_:)]

Hiya Ann 😱
LOL - cute story about your grand!! Older peopel can so often surprise us with twists of wit and how wonderful that something got her braincells firing. 🙂

I know what you mean about being with elderlies in highschool too. I actually used to visit a few at this one nursing home often on my way home from class or whatever was going down that day. Had some baptism of fire doing that too LOL. But that's another story! I was so naive back then.

Anyway, what i wanted to say was that i honestly think there's something special about the relationship between young people and old people. With the men and women i used to visit and my grand, i (and in the latter case my brothers) could often get them to "do us a favour" as you say, and let us help them because we were kids. Sort of like how you go and see the most amateur music performance and clap long and loud if it's kids whereas if it were done by adults you'd boo them off the stage.

Somehow, unless i'm very much mistaken (not an uncommon experience mind you 😛 ) older people find it easier to be helped by the very young partly as a favour to them and partly because it's like playing with the grandkids to the older person.

I really hope, Ann, that all works out well with your grandmother. I and i'm sure others are keeping up heartfelt prayers.

Many hugs and blessings,
Chickles_🙂