A look into falls and the elderly

STARTING THE DAY OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT:

It wasn’t the way I wanted to begin the day. We have all heard the term concerning “Getting started on the wrong foot.” While most feel they can plan, organize and put in place the proper or correct way to get everything going right so the rest of the day will fall in place, that isn’t always the case.

I write on the middle of Wednesday morning. Last Tuesday or very early Wednesday is my intended time to write my column for the weekend edition. The unscheduled interruptions and mishaps also fight for time in those early morning hours; more often than not those notso-important matters win the battle for those precious moments needed to write. As a response to all those who ask may I answer by saying that once the first sentence wording of my column is determined and written and there are no interruptions, I can be finished within an hour or an hour and fifteen minutes. That first sentence is the hardest part and takes longer than any writing I do.

With all that said, I now refer back to the heading of this section and conclude “This day of writing did not get off on the right foot.” Like most other mishaps in our lives, I did not intend to spill my coffee all over my desk as I sat down in front of the computer to write. My desk is not tidy (an understatement to the greatest degree). Most who view it would not believe anything needed could be found; that is not true until some “clean-and-straighten-up-do gooder” comes along and determines to make my study neat and clean; a room that no one in normal movement in my house should ever see. In other words, a person has to be near-snoopy and trespassing to even get a glimpse of the inside of the room in which I now sit; so it was in another residence I once lived. I am afraid the same mental attitude was entertained by another in my past life.

In all fairness, it must be admitted on many occasions there is a need to solicit the help of the cleaner-upper to find a misplaced book. “If you are worried about falling, you are not alone.” There was a great deal of humor uttered about the ad originating several years ago featuring the woman who uttered, “Help, I have fallen and can’t get up.” The ad was for an instrument designed to notify help was needed. That instrument and many others are featured prominently into this day on television. There is no hesitation here to recommend that all of us who are older obtain an alert devise; it might save your life.

WHERE AND WHY FALLS TAKE PLACE:

First attention is given to the where: A survey reported that more half (55 percent) of all falls take place inside the home and that more than three- quarters ( 75 percent) take place either inside or in closer proximity (SIC) to the home where a medical alert system can be of immediate assistance. Falls can happen anywhere, especially as they relate to senior citizens.

As to the why of falls, there are many reasons. First on one list were the medicines we take. It has been a tendency in this writer’s mind to blame medicine for any misfortune, any unexplained symptom or happening (Drop Attacks for instance). Listen or read any commercial advertising the great cures offered by the medicines of today. Keep on listening and learn of the possible side effects. The ailment is often more appealing than the side effects. Someone observed, “Although medicines can help you stay well, they can put you at risk for falling.”

This is especially true if you are taking several medications several times a day. ADVICE TO THE ELDERLY: A most important bit of advice for senior citizens (this from a senior citizen himself) is don’t live alone if at all possible. Two people, no matter how infirm or cantankerous, living together is much more beneficial and removed from various risks than one person living alone.

There will indeed be a followup to today’s remarks, especially as broken hips are considered.