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lillypaddle

(9,605 posts)
Fri Jul 22, 2022, 02:50 PM Jul 2022

Be careful out there

or in your own home. I scared myself last night. Was bending over and reaching to the back of the cabinet under the bathroom sink, and my legs gave out and I wound up on the floor. It took me forever to pull myself up, and I didn't know if I was going to be able to. "Help, I've fallen and can't get up" isn't just a cliche' for me these days. Anyway, I'm back on my feet, but was worried for awhile there.

Where is an old lard ass emoji when you need it????

25 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Be careful out there (Original Post) lillypaddle Jul 2022 OP
Glad you recovered. I'm 73 in starting to worry a little about living alone Walleye Jul 2022 #1
I have a senior friend who is also 73. MontanaMama Jul 2022 #4
It's good to have a plan lillypaddle Jul 2022 #9
I know what you mean lillypaddle Jul 2022 #12
Yes that's the dilemma. I am impossible to live with Walleye Jul 2022 #13
You're not dealing with your kids. You are dealing with someone you can just text with. 3Hotdogs Jul 2022 #16
So glad you are ok! SheltieLover Jul 2022 #2
Thanks for the tip lillypaddle Jul 2022 #8
I'm pretty much homebound, too, since covid. SheltieLover Jul 2022 #14
I also expect a "check-up" with your cardiologist is in order..... 3Hotdogs Jul 2022 #17
It is scary. MuseRider Jul 2022 #3
I have Alexa lillypaddle Jul 2022 #6
I don't think Alexa can call 911. DURHAM D Jul 2022 #10
iPhone Siri can call 911 for you. 3Hotdogs Jul 2022 #18
You are in OK? MuseRider Jul 2022 #23
Glad you are okay... sheshe2 Jul 2022 #5
Thanks, sheshe2 lillypaddle Jul 2022 #7
Doc told me "keep moving". multigraincracker Jul 2022 #11
Surely someone is going to find an "old lard ass emoji" for you hvn_nbr_2 Jul 2022 #15
there are some informative videos for this on youtube: IcyPeas Jul 2022 #19
These are great lillypaddle Jul 2022 #22
This top video is very good, and helpful, though if you have had two knee replacements, No Vested Interest Jul 2022 #25
Lost track Rebl2 Jul 2022 #20
注意してください! YoshidaYui Jul 2022 #21
Glad you were able to rise! Tesha Jul 2022 #24

MontanaMama

(24,041 posts)
4. I have a senior friend who is also 73.
Fri Jul 22, 2022, 03:03 PM
Jul 2022

She lives alone and we have an agreement that she will text me every morning by 8am so that I know she's okay. If I don't have a text by 8 in the morning, I will text and or call her. It gives us both peace of mind.

lillypaddle

(9,605 posts)
12. I know what you mean
Fri Jul 22, 2022, 03:19 PM
Jul 2022

I can't do that to my kids, plus I'm just not ready to deal with people on a daily basis. And I'm sure they aren't ready to deal with me!

3Hotdogs

(13,436 posts)
16. You're not dealing with your kids. You are dealing with someone you can just text with.
Fri Jul 22, 2022, 03:55 PM
Jul 2022

15 seconds per day. No more, if you don't want to.

SheltieLover

(59,723 posts)
2. So glad you are ok!
Fri Jul 22, 2022, 03:01 PM
Jul 2022

Check with your senior center & council on aging for free exercise classes that focus on balance. In TN they offer SAIL, an evidence based seniors exercise program shown to reduce falls.

lillypaddle

(9,605 posts)
8. Thanks for the tip
Fri Jul 22, 2022, 03:15 PM
Jul 2022

I recently had to junk my car after someone tried to steal it, and with breathing and heart problems, I'm pretty much homebound. I need to lose weight, but loving to cook and being homebound is not helping!

Excuses, excuses ...

SheltieLover

(59,723 posts)
14. I'm pretty much homebound, too, since covid.
Fri Jul 22, 2022, 03:33 PM
Jul 2022

Between the pandemic & living in a violent red shithole (TN) I only go to grocery store.

But the classes are online, so you don't need to go out! 👍

I've found my sr ctr & council on aging to be very valuable resources in many ways. 😊👍

There are also cd's you can buy & likely you tube freebies to help with strength & balance.

MuseRider

(34,383 posts)
3. It is scary.
Fri Jul 22, 2022, 03:01 PM
Jul 2022

It really pisses me off about myself that I let myself get this old and unstable! How could that happen? LOL

Seriously, me too. My heart stuff has caused me to go down more than a few times then the stroke so I get it and have thought about getting something. My sons are likely to give me one of those for my next birthday and I will have to be grateful and happy when in fact I will be but it just hurts when this point comes along and truly? We are lucky that we got here.

I am glad you are back up on your feet. It is scary and a bit ego smashing but then you DID get yourself back up. Are you OK?

lillypaddle

(9,605 posts)
6. I have Alexa
Fri Jul 22, 2022, 03:11 PM
Jul 2022

and in a pinch "she" could call 911 or my son. Problem is that "she" can be erratic at times, and Wifi isn't always reliable.

I'm fine, thanks. This is the second fall I've had this year, (the first one had to do with a little too much THC) so I've been lucky.

You take care of yourself, ya hear?

DURHAM D

(32,842 posts)
10. I don't think Alexa can call 911.
Fri Jul 22, 2022, 03:18 PM
Jul 2022

Just this morning I ran an Alexa check with siblings, nephews/nieces, neighbors and cousin given that we had not done a review for at least a year. Everything was good.

3Hotdogs

(13,436 posts)
18. iPhone Siri can call 911 for you.
Fri Jul 22, 2022, 03:59 PM
Jul 2022

"Hey Siri, call 911."

Or get an apple watch. that'll respond to the shock of your fall and call 911 if you don't cancel the call.

MuseRider

(34,383 posts)
23. You are in OK?
Fri Jul 22, 2022, 05:45 PM
Jul 2022

I am up in Kansas but if you are in OK I hope you are staying inside. We are at 100 with an index of 104 and it is supposed to be worse this weekend. What we are having must sound like a cold front to you. Just don't go down outside! Fall inside. At least that is what keep telling myself.
On Edit
Sorry, where you are is no picnic either. I forgot to see if you still lived there! Still the good motto is "Fall INSIDE not OUTSIDE".

hvn_nbr_2

(6,607 posts)
15. Surely someone is going to find an "old lard ass emoji" for you
Fri Jul 22, 2022, 03:34 PM
Jul 2022

But seriously, staying (or getting) in shape is important. We always hear a lot about cardiovascular conditioning but strength, flexibility, and balance are important too. Being strong enough to do pushups can make the difference between a broken wrist and a broken head in a fall. Being flexible makes getting things out of the back of those floor level cabinets easy. Before 70, I never even imagined the need to do balance exercises but they sure help now.

Somebody else on the thread mentioned having someone they text with every morning, for a wellness check. I do that with someone too. It's reassuring.

IcyPeas

(22,637 posts)
19. there are some informative videos for this on youtube:
Fri Jul 22, 2022, 04:01 PM
Jul 2022

My mother once took a bath and then realized she had a lot of trouble getting out of the bath. some good tips to know in case it happens. The second video shows a 91 year old man showing how its done.

Glad you are back on your feet. Here are some dinosaur emoji's LOL 🦖🦕





No Vested Interest

(5,199 posts)
25. This top video is very good, and helpful, though if you have had two knee replacements,
Fri Jul 22, 2022, 08:50 PM
Jul 2022

It's extremely difficult to get knees into that bent positions and put weight on them to push yourself up.
I've fallen once, and that's the problem I found.

Since that fall, about 2 years ago, I find myself more and more unsteady, and use a Hurrycane pretty much as I amble around my home. I have two Hurrycanes for my convenience.

I also use a "grabber" to help in picking up items, so that I don't have to bend over too far or often for dropped items, etc.
The one time I fell I was leaning forward to grab an insect.

I'm one of the more senior "seniors" on this board.

Rebl2

(14,803 posts)
20. Lost track
Fri Jul 22, 2022, 04:37 PM
Jul 2022

of the number of times my parents fell at home. When my mom still had her wit’s about her she knew what to do, call 911. Then when she developed dementia she or dad would call me and I would have to go to their house and call. So far my legs are strong, but have terrible arthritis in my feet. I have had arthritis since I was nine and now am sixty-five. I learned a long time ago how to get up off the floor-not because I fell, just from getting down on floor to exercise or doing something else.

Tesha

(20,961 posts)
24. Glad you were able to rise!
Fri Jul 22, 2022, 06:43 PM
Jul 2022

Glad you didn’t hit your head, that makes it much harder!

Just one thing, something weird happens to me when I’ve fallen, I’m sort of stunned. It takes a while just to orient myself. Seconds, at tops a minute but golly!

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