Stuck!
The things we took for granted are not so any longer.
The tasks we once accomplished so readily require more thought now.
I wanted to reach something from the lower shelf of the sideboard and just couldn’t quite manage, so I knelt down, which turned out to be a mistake, a miscalculation, a misjudgment. When I attempted to stand up again, I found I couldn’t. A combination of cramp and tricky back meant I couldn’t quite apply the necessary leverage to raise myself to the perpendicular.
I sat and thought, and then sat and thought a bit more. I have no doubt that I would eventually have succeeded in getting up off the floor, but, after about twenty minutes, and feeling increasingly chilly in the unheated dining room, I conceded defeat and called Barry to come and help me. To his credit, he didn’t laugh, but provided a stable base for me to lean on as I creaked upwards. Rising to the dizzy heights made me feel quite giddy and it took some minutes for my resting heart rate to return to normal.
It was an amusing interlude, but it made me think about those who live alone and have no-one to call on, particularly in the event of mishap. Accidents can occur at any time to anyone of any age. Who knows what goes on behind closed front doors?
All too often, it is postmen and other local delivery people who realise something is amiss and raise the alarm. In too many instances, lonely people have died isolated and unmissed. However independent we think we are, we are social animals and need the support of others, even if it is discreet and unseen.
I'm glad you were ok! My poor MIL got stuck in the bathtub. She called her husband but he couldn't pull her out and they had to call for help. Luckily, her husband was there to hand her something to cover up with. Jane, who lived alone, had an alarm she wore around her neck in case she fell
ReplyDeleteMy mother-in-law fell in the garden and couldn't get up. A neighbour heard her calling for help. My mother fell in the bathroom and stayed there all day. I found her when I called in to see her, as I did every day. Growing older is no picnic.
DeleteI am glad Barry was home to help. I remember one time years ago when my back was giving trouble (newly sprained) I had trouble getting up, but was able to crawl on hands and knees like a baby to a chair and haul myself up.
ReplyDeleteIt's quite surprising how inventive people can be when in difficulties.
DeleteA former blogger who I met was so large that if she fell down or went down in some way, she would have to call and ambulance and the paramedics had a kind of inflatable device to slip under her to raise her to her feet. Her nephew, who she called the Brick Sh**house was not strong enough to lift her on his own. I try to ensure I have something within reach to help my up. I can still get up, but it is much easier if, as you say, there is some leverage.
ReplyDeleteJust to add, that's is why I exchange a 'dead in bed' sms to my neighbour each morning at 8.30. If I don't send or she doesn't reply, further actions are needed without being alarmist.
DeleteYour sms arrangement is such a good idea. My mother-in-law had a similar arrangement with neighbours, though with curtains - drawn or undrawn. No iPhones then.
DeleteWe had this issue with my late Mum who, thank goodness, wore an emergency alarm on a chain around her neck & frequently had to push it for help to get up off the floor. My brother was the first point of contact but if he couldn't get there then an ambulance would come. After a couple of years we had caregivers who would call in twice a day to give Mum medication & they were great at checking up on her too. It comes to all of us ... often faster than we ever want.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't so much as creep up as gallop. None of us ever think it will happen, but it probably will. Oh, joy! 😁
DeleteAaaah, the perks of getting older, making sure you have someone in the house or at least a chair or some such nearby. They say the getting down is easy it's the getting up that's work.
ReplyDeleteGlad you had someone to lend a hand!
That is so true. It's probably a good idea to study toddlers and see how they manage . . . 😁
DeleteOh dear. You have my sympathies. I can't get in our truck any more. It is too high. If I put my bad knee in first, it is not strong enough to pull me up. If I put my good knee in first, my bad knee is not strong enough to push off on. Old age is not for sissies.
ReplyDeleteTrue. You need to be tough to withstand old(er) age.
DeleteGood heavens Janice! Make a plan and practice it. Good thing Barry was there to help.
ReplyDeletePilates, yoga, core strengthening are all in my plan *cough* but seriously, I am working on it.
DeleteOh dear and you have my sympathies. I know that if I were in that position, I would never be able to get up. I hope your poor back is okay now.
ReplyDeleteIt's getting there, Denise, thank you.
DeleteTrue that we are social animals. My life has been becoming so simple and isolated now
ReplyDeleteIt's good to be independent but also to realise that we do need other people, at least some of the time.
DeleteWhen that has happened to me I try to roll over and drop down onto all fours and do a toddler crawl to a chair where I can hopefully pull myself up. And I am only 67 for goodness sake.
ReplyDeleteI would have got there in the end, I know, but I had other things to do . . . 67? Spring chicken!
DeleteI know how you feel, my back gives out always at the wrong moment and I have to call hubby for help, my issue is I won't give in to the fact I am aging, my mind convinces my body to have a go.
ReplyDeleteAn agile mind is a good thing, but a few aids along the way for the body are a good idea.
DeleteA lot of farming accidents have happened because of rural isolation.
ReplyDeleteI can believe that. Farm workers work on their own so much of the time.
DeleteSometimes I get down on the floor and I also think what position do I need to be in to get back up. Fortunately up to this point I've always been able to get back up by myself. But I'm like you I wonder about the millions who live alone and never get back up.
ReplyDeleteIt's really shocking to read of bodies found years after they've died, and often in well-populated areas.
DeleteIn the past, I would leap up from the floor like Zebedee in "The Magic Roundabout". Now I crawl around like Brian. If I live that long - how will it be when I am eighty?
ReplyDeleteKeep walking, keep fit and you'll be fine, I'm sure.
DeleteThank you Dr Jabblog. No drugs?
DeleteRecreational, maybe, if you're that way inclined . . .
DeleteYou’ve given me an idea for a post, for I recently had an incident. It wasn’t a problem, but I can see how it could have been. It had to do with the bath.
ReplyDeleteBaths can be tricky, especially if your knees are playing up.
DeleteIt's a scary thing, indeed, when you can't do something you could do with ease when you were younger. I've been there, too, and it's scary once you live alone, as you point out.
ReplyDeleteAnyone can slip or trip at any age. Older people don't bounce so readily . . . 😶
DeleteGetting old is not for the faint of heart. I have not had an incident like that yet, but I know it is coming.
ReplyDeleteI've tripped and slipped at all stages of my life - I should be used to it by now.
DeleteBeen there, but fortunately, as I live alone, have been able to get up unassisted. My friend has had to call her local fire department several times to help her get up. I wouldn't mind some cute firemen, but so far I've managed. I'm so glad you had help on hand.
ReplyDeleteFiremen could be quite a pleasure . . .
DeleteI hear you! It's easier to get down than back up unless there's a handy chair or table.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame, really, because sitting on the floor is quite nice!
DeleteQueueing in a shop the other day the woman in front asked me if I was able to bend down as she'd dropped something and had a bad spine.
ReplyDeleteGood job Barry was there. We all need to acknowledge that sometimes we need help. (I am very bad at that!)
Independence is a double-edged sword! How nice that she felt able to ask for help.
Deletealmost every blog I have read today has this same type thing happening, from earthquakes while at the dentist, to a 5 minute tornado knocking down trees, on a bright sunny day, one blogger fell up her sons stairs and can't walk on either ankle and has a huge flap of skin torn up. I could go on but I will say what I said to them. so glad you were not injured badly or home alone and survived this. I get this completely
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, my very small incident pales into insignificance against those much more worrying events.
DeleteI am pleased that Barry was home to help you up.
ReplyDeleteI think for those who live on their own it can be very helpful to have an emergency alarm. My friend has one she wears as a necklace, she says it gives her a sense of security. Perhaps something I will need to give consideration to as my circumstances have changed!
Keep safe as Storm Darragh approaches.
All the best Jan
Alarms are a good idea. Either that or keep your 'phone with you at all times. Is it windy where you are? It is here, but not too bad.
DeleteI've never been in your situation, but I think I would get frantic if I couldn't get up.
ReplyDeletePanic isn't helpful in any situation . . . 😨😧😬
DeleteSo true about those who live alone but I was pleased to read all your commenters' good advice on how to deal with such a situation. Glad you were able to get up with Barry's help - and that he didn't laugh :-) xxx
ReplyDeleteHe's very good and tolerates all my stupidity - and there's plenty of it, believe me.
DeleteThis was a valuable post thank you. I had lost track of you and thanks AC I'm on touch here.
ReplyDeleteI'm in my late eighties, have lived alone for many years, and I have had to get into safe habits. Grab bars all over, installed for my late husband and left up when he died. Daily early am text exchanged with my son. If I don't respond he tries another path, and if he hasn't heard by an agreed time he comes over or alerts a neighbor. I have my phone on me at all times, within reach if I'm in the shower.
I'm fit and pretty strong considering, but old joints simply can't supply the leverage they used to. I'm small and if all else fails and I'm on the floor I can call my police department and request a cute young officer to help!
Can you specify which cute young officer should come? Sounds good! 👮♂️
ReplyDelete