Wheels Go Around

...and around!  What a week since last Friday! The Mister fell getting into the car right in the carport between the cabin side door and the car door. Got him up using kitchen chair for helper. Later same day, he fell after taking a ride in the golf car when he was walking -with cane- toward the front porch and went down in the pathway and flowerbed. Two falls in one day. Used kitchen chair to help him get up. Then early on Monday he fell in the kitchen. I was able to call a neighbor who helped him get up. I had already reported Friday's falls to the doctor and he immediately ordered Interim Health Care. Later on Monday he fell again in the bathroom and the same neighbor with spouse got him up. Two bloody and scraped elbows. No other injuries! Monday was my brother's 82nd birthday. I had mailed a card. Called, but no answer.

On Tuesday my Schwan's order was delivered, the automatic generator yearly service was completed, and the trashman picked up. Life went on as normal without a fall.

Wednesday the RN came and she did a thorough evaluation. He fell when she was here when walking across the living room using the walker, as usual. She got him up, waited to see if he was going to be ok and left. The neighbor did my laundry.

Wednesday was my daughter's 65th birthday. She and our younger daughter from PA went to the NJ seashore for an overnight stay. It was a double May birthday annual celebration for them. Tomorrow is her actual 61st birthday and there will be a NJ family dinner out tonight and she will return back here in PA on Saturday. 

Then on Thursday the physical therapist came; a very tall man who had to duck his head a lot when coming through any doorways and walking through living spaces. He did his assessment and said he'd be  back the next day. The yard man came and the mowing and weed whacking were done.  That evening the Mister fell again when sitting down in his recliner chair after dinner. Neighbors were called and got him up. 

In Friday, the propane gas tank was topped until cold weather sets in. The pre-payment for the season will be due soon. The occupational therapist came to do her evaluation. She no sooner left than the physical therapist arrived and serious exercises began. A different way of sitting and getting up was explored and finally decided upon with the use of one of the porch chairs that has arms. The physical therapist says he will probably be coming three times a week for a couple of months. There will also be more visits from the OT and even a LPN! The neighbor picked up medicine from the Hospital RX that the doctor had ordered. 

The Mister' legs have been giving out for a couple of years but now they are so weak that this help is really needed. I understand that. But,

I am not used to traffic in my home - at all. I'm rambling a bit now. It's OK. Writing helps me cope. 

Remember that my mantra is "DO NOT FALL." It has been 11 years on Memorial Day that my fall almost did me in but I'm still tickin' and tockin' and kickin' too! 

Don't Fall!

Joyce is my 72 year old sister. She fell last week, breaking both arms, cutting her chin and is incapacitated for a while. She slipped and fell at home in the morning in her bathroom. Now both arms are in casts. I was so sorry to hear this. I know how it feels to have such pain and not be able to function but I only broke my humerus and rotator cup. I had function of one arm even if I'm not left handed. How horrible it must be to have someone have to do everything for you until you can do it by yourself. Think on it.  Think hard on it. When we age a broken "anything" is bad and I plead with you be very careful and don't fall and break anything. I remember what a shock it was to me when I went down so unexpectedly. I had a difficult time believing I fell so suddenly and felt so shocked.

The good news is that she has a very caring husband and girlfriend who are attending to her every need - and some of them are difficult for both the caregivers and her. Think on it. Think of not being able to use either arm in addition to being in pain. Don't fall!