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One of the biggest concerns I have as a care giver has been making sure that my husband doesn’t fall.  He has had a few near misses.  You see he has neuropathy in his feet and also limited use of his right shoulder and arm which can create a bit of an imbalance.

I make sure that when he showers we have either a bath mat or shower shoes for him.  If we do fall in the shower, we have a cloth mitt hanging low enough on the wall in the shower where we can put our phones while we shower without getting them wet.  We have security grab bars in all the bathrooms and motion censored night lights throughout each room and throughout the house.

So imagine my surprise when I tripped and fell recently alone in our home.  Thad was in the hospital and I was getting ready to go to bed.  My phone was charging on the night stand, the dog was in her crate and the backdoor was locked.  Concerned that I did not have the front door locked I made my way up to check.  Laying on the dining room carpet were two clear rolled office chair floor mats that I recently ordered and had not put in the office yet.  My left foot caught on the matts  and I went down faster than you can say “Oh, Crumb Cakes!”

In a matter of seconds my mind immediately went to – “Stay still and assess the damages”, “What hurts?”, “Can I get up?”  “My phone is in the bedroom – how am I going to get there?”  “Who will take care of Thad and the dog if I’m in a Rehab Center?”

Needless to say it wasn’t easy to get this 70 year old body off the floor.  The pain in my hip was something horrible.  When the doctor in the ER asked me how I managed to get up I really don’t know how I did it except to state that I think Jesus had his arms lifted me.

I was lucky.  No broken bones, fractures or tears.  A skinned and black and blue knee and shin, and severe muscle strain of groin and buttocks.  I was on a walker, and then a cane.  And while I still have some pain, all is healing and I feel blessed.

But it also served as a reminder of what can happen in the blink of an eye and that sometimes we need to review precautions.  The national Institutes of Health say that falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries in people 65 and older.  The New England Journal of Medicine reports that if you’re elderly there is a good chance you will end up in a skilled nursing facility.  The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons has estimated that 90 percent of the 352,000 hip fractures recorded in the US each year are the result of a fall.  Scary statistics.

So what can we do to reduce the risks.

1. Attend fall prevention programs in your area.  There are both outpatient and home therapy programs which can help with “gait training”, strengthening exercises and instruction on how to properly use a cane or walker.
2. Keep floors clear and reduce clutter.
3. Ensure that floors are clean and not waxed. Use non-skid throw rugs.
4. Make sure your home is well lit.  Utilize night sensor lights throughout your home.  https://a.co/d/hIqDOZi
5. Install handrails or grab bars in stairways and bathrooms.
6. Use a sturdy step stool or ladder with long hand rails to reach high places.
7. https://a.co/d/7wI4NvG
8. Keep your cell phone on you at all times. Use a cross bag or a fanny pack around your waist for your phone.  If you fall, you will have access to help.
9. I use a shower mitt in the shower to hold my phone and glasses so they don’t get wet.  I have it low to the floor on a suction hook.  If I  fall, I will have access to help.  https://a.co/d/0PMQIEU
10. Utilize a medic alert system.

Whether you are the care giver or the care receiver, falling is dangerous and no laughing matter.  You may think you are over reacting by taking these steps but I can assure you, you aren’t.  I am living proof that it can happen to anyone.  You can bet your life that I will have my phone on me even if I am heading to bed and making one last check on the house.  Lesson learned.

Resource: https://caregiver.com/articles/dealing-with-fall-risk/

Thank you for reading my post.  If you have found it encouraging please consider liking, commenting or sharing it.  Feel free to even re-blog – may these words take flight!

I have additional insights I’d love to share with you found in the pages of my debut book: Surviving Medical Mayhem – Laughing When It Hurts.  To order a copy or learn more go to my website at www.lorettaschoen.com

Blessings for Health & Wellness.