PSA--Being careful isn't for sissies

[Lulu KC]

(I already posted this within a conversation but it really opened my eyes about falling down and why we don't want to do it so I'm making an OP.)

Yesterday I laughed and cried (simultaneously and in sympathy) when reading CycloneFence's two posts and other people's responses about aging, falling down, not falling down, people treating us differently, etc.

Last night we were at our son's house and I told him, my husband, and others about parts of our discussion. My son, the one we always say, "Don't tell XXX I fell down!" about the minute we fall, for fear of being sent to The Home, happens to be a doctor. He told us something that I would otherwise think was a lie.

As we age, the risks accompanying falling down increase because there is a chance of a stroke occurring shortly after the fall. I did not know this. (There's a name for this but, of course, I have no idea what it is. It's in Latin, if that helps.)

It made me remember that as a child I had elderly relatives in their 90s who had strokes. In my child's mind, I thought the sequence was 1. fall 2. break hip 3. have stroke. (Sometimes with a little pneumonia in there somewhere.) It turns out that they probably had the stroke as a result of falling in the first place!

I think I probably fall down fewer times each year because I am ridiculously careful now, but I am now only more motivated to stay that way. I've been proud of my fantastic bone density, thinking I don't have to worry about breaking a hip. But a stroke? No laughing matter.

[Siwsan]

1. I took a fall, last year. Hit the step to the deck with my hip and the edge of the deck with my arm

just above the elbow. And I fell hard after catching the side of my foot on a paver stone.

The result was, well, I guess I conducted my own bone density test because all I got was a couple of bruises. I was shocked, too, because of the way and how hard I fell. I really expected I had seriously damaged something.

I've never had a major bone break, and I'm a life long klutz so I've taken a lot of falls, but rarely one that hard. That fall scared me so I am being SO much more cautious, now.

On a side note, I have broken each and every toe, at least once, from bashing the in to some unmovable object.

[cyclonefence]

4. That information about stroke following a fall is really interesting

I knew that sometimes a person doesn't break her hip in a fall; her hip breaks, which causes a fall.

I just had a bone density test, and while I've always felt I had nice thick, heavy bones (handy for explaining overweight), I was shocked to be told I have some osteoporosis. But my doctor doesn't want to treat me for it until I've finished my extensive orthopedic surgery plans.

[SWBTATTReg]

2. Nothing is wrong w/ being ultra-safe, in getting around the house, outside, shopping, the car, etc.

We were doing repairs on our stairwell going up to the 2nd floor, and I told my other half that sometimes I got a little dizzy (maybe once in 20 events), and he turned around and immediately put up stair railings for those steps. How nice and I do feel safer. We do have railings everywhere, and that rough tape that keeps you from slipping in the shower/tub. Every little thing you can do, IMHO, helps you prolong your life into a better, longer, and safer life.

Protect yourself and yours. That's the number 1 priority when you get up there in age (and for that matter, you don't need an age limit to put these things up to safeguard yourselves).

[cyclonefence]

3. A retired doctor friend of mine

advised me, when I told him about remodeling our shower, to put in at least two grab bars. We did, one right at the front under the shower controls (makes a nice place to hang my washcloth, too), and one right at the point where you step into the shower. These were so helpful--especially when I wash my hair and have my eyes shut, and when I stand on one leg to wash my feet--that we've added grab bars all over the place.

And now my little 20-month-old grandson can use one of them to take the step up into our kitchen all by himself!

[SWBTATTReg]

5. Ha ha heh. That's great, that more than one person is benefited by your refits to protect yourselves. Can't hurt

anything and if anything, one slip, one bad fall avoided, and you've paid for it all many times over!

[usonian]

6. Strong muscles protect joints.

If you can build them up.

That said, I am picking up everything I can, because my strong glasses see clearly only in my line of sight. Stuff on the ground goes blurry. Same for people new to bifocals. A lot of people fall when stairs and obstacles go blurry in the lower "reading zone"

I live alone in the boondocks, so there's only myself to nag about picking things up, but I am really tired of stubbing toes.

Nothing worse so far. I'll be ready for potential falls.

[cyclonefence]

7. Oh, Bip

Tires, safety--is there anything you can't do?