My 70 year-old grandmother fell on the floor last night. She is a heavy woman and no one in the house could lift her because she was unable to assist in lifting her weight. The fire dept. had to come out and lift her.
She said she had tried pulling herself up with her walker but she couldn't. Is there a gizmo out there that I can put in the house for instances like this? I'm sure this won't be the last time.
2007-03-28 10:25:41 · 3 answers · asked by blazenphoenix 4 in Health ➔ Other - Health
I don't appreciate being accused of elder abuse. She fell and was too weak to get up period. Whoever thinks that people should go to a nursing home when they show ANY signs of weakness will quickly change their tune when they reach that precious stage in life.
2007-03-29 10:11:15 · update #1
Call her doctor and get idea's. Prevention of broken hips is a major concern in the medical community. Her doctor may need to do a check up to see why she's falling and if this will occur more in the future.
My Daddy fell lots too, and his Doctor sent out ppl to walk through the house and make it safe, geriatric proof if you will. There's stuff 4 showers ... those intercomes where she can say "Help I've fallen and can't get up" ... and improve lighting.
She may qualify for "Pallitative" care where you can call a nursing group when this happens instead of the fire department (however, you'll miss those cute hunks - giggle).
2007-03-28 10:34:04 · answer #1 · answered by Giggly Giraffe 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Either she goes into a skilled nursing facility or you all get charged with elder abuse/neglect. If you think she's going to fall again and it took the Fire Department to get her off the floor last night, she has no business living at home anymore.
Been there, done that with grandparents, aunts, uncles. Once if gets to the point where SHE can't get up, and nobody in your house can pick her up she needs to move to a skilled nursing facility. They employ strong people that help people in & out of bed, in & out of the shower, etc.
There is a device she can wear around her neck that can call 911. They sell it at Radio Shack, but she has to wear it all the time. But then you have to consider what's going to happen when she falls while bathing and isn't wearing it? What if she falls and hits her head on something and lays on the floor bleeding or unconscous?
If she can't use her own walker to get up anymore she has no business living on her own. You can only call the Fire Department so many time to pick her up before they start charging you thousands of dollars, they're not there to repeatedly help with the exact some problem.
You should realize there is not "device" that's going to fix this. She needs round the clock supervision and to be where someone CAN pick her up when she falls.
2007-03-28 17:44:42 · answer #2 · answered by wwhrd 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Maybe you could get a gait belt. I work in a nursing home and when someone falls, we put this belt on them to have something to hold on to to get them back up. You can probably get one at a medical supply store.
2007-03-28 17:34:59 · answer #3 · answered by Mom of Three 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋