Another friend falling incident......not good recovery so far.

[aja8888]

Another one of the ROMEO group I hang out with took a fall in his side yard this week and went face down onto the concrete walkway. He's now in the hospital with two back eyes, a big lump on his forehead, a small brain bleed, and on oxygen, but awake.

This fellow was part of our weekly golf foursome and, while being a scratch golfer early in his life, was showing signs of slipping, mentally within the last year. The last time we played (a month ago), he couldn't line up a putt and was having difficulty hitting short irons. This was a fellow who, at one time, was the President of the Houston Golf Association and helped build our signature Carlton Woods courses here in The Woodlands. He originally worked for George Mitchell, who developed The Woodlands area.

We (us, his DW and the Doc's) are afraid he is slipping into dementia and that's a shame for an active 81 year old. We are a month apart in age and have been great friends for quite a while. His DW doesn't think he will be going home from the hospital, but will head to a skilled care and rehab facility (the same one my DW was in when she passed). Once that stay and evaluation is complete, then where he goes will be up to his DW, I would suppose. She's a tiny lady and doesn't feel she could take care of him if he will need physical help daily.

This is so sick.....he is the fourth guy we are losing in the last two years from our tight knit group of 14 friends (two from strokes, two from falls, all four in their early 80's).

Be careful...don't fall!

 

[Koolau]

Our upstairs neighbor moved to a community in FL. He was in his mid 70s. He played tennis almost every day plus pickle ball. He fell, hit his head, got a brain bleed and died about 3 months later. He never got to go home.

Be careful, indeed.

 

[audreyh1]

So sorry to hear that!

Sounds like the fall and mobility, balance, body awareness, etc. is linked to dementia.

 

[Koolau]

So sorry to hear that!

Sounds like the fall and mobility, balance, body awareness, etc. is linked to dementia.

Yes and it begs the question "Which comes first?" Apparently, aja8888's friend was active and athletic yet still was slipping into some sort of dementia before the accident.

I notice that I'm losing a fair amount of my physical stamina, primarily due to back issues that have not been fully resolved. I'm concerned because I keep hearing that the best way to stave off dementia is to stay active. It's very difficult (painful) for me.

I suppose we all slow down at different times.

 

[aja8888]

So sorry to hear that!

Sounds like the fall and mobility, balance, body awareness, etc. is linked to dementia.

Well, he was seeing a neurologist for the memory loss before the fall. We were concerned.

One incident that sticks in my mind is that last summer when we were playing golf, on one fairway he looked at me and asked me what club do I think he should use from our location on the fairway. He's always been a great golfer and that question made no sense to me as he should know that by resolving the variables (wind strength, direction, the lie of the ball, etc), and that should be fairly instinctive for a guy with his talents.

Things were getting worse from there on and he was not attending the daily meetings very much over the winter months.

 

[aja8888]

Yes and it begs the question "Which comes first?" Apparently, aja8888's friend was active and athletic yet still was slipping into some sort of dementia before the accident.

I notice that I'm losing a fair amount of my physical stamina, primarily due to back issues that have not been fully resolved. I'm concerned because I keep hearing that the best way to stave off dementia is to stay active. It's very difficult (painful) for me.

I suppose we all slow down at different times.

Koolau, have you tried using resistance bands to strengthen muscles not frequently used? It's a way to get some meaningful exercise even though you are not very mobile with your back issues.

 

[Car-Guy]

Sorry to hear... It just reminds me to enjoy life while I can.

 

[RetMD21]

As audreyh1 indicated sometimes a fall is a sign of other issues. I hope he recovers enough to goo home.

 

[joesxm3]

Sorry to hear that you are losing the friends. But your posts are giving us all a heads up and incentive to try to keep in shape.

This week a lady from church who I think must be older than me broke her arm falling while ice skating. I suppose if you had been good at it you might think you can still do it. I could not skate when young. No way I would try now. And I am "only" 68.

 

[Koolau]

Koolau, have you tried using resistance bands to strengthen muscles not frequently used? It's a way to get some meaningful exercise even though you are not very mobile with your back issues.

No, but thanks for the suggestion. I do try to do some isometric exercises of those muscles that are still not painful.

 

[aja8888]

Sorry to hear that you are losing the friends. But your posts are giving us all a heads up and incentive to try to keep in shape.

This week a lady from church who I think must be older than me broke her arm falling while ice skating. I suppose if you had been good at it you might think you can still do it. I could not skate when young. No way I would try now. And I am "only" 68.

I was a pretty good athlete over my lifetime, having played most sports other than football (too thin and light weight). I was a pitcher in college and played a little third base too. And was a long distance runner for over two decades. But these days, no bicycles, skates, running, etc as I don't want to take a tumble that would cause a lot of damage.

Now that I am witnessing my close friends having these incidents only makes me more careful, although I am still in good physical shape, but I know a big head bang can take any 81 year old out quickly.

 

[aja8888]

No, but thanks for the suggestion. I do try to do some isometric exercises of those muscles that are still not painful.

 

[MarieIG]

Yes and it begs the question "Which comes first?" Apparently, aja8888's friend was active and athletic yet still was slipping into some sort of dementia before the accident.

I notice that I'm losing a fair amount of my physical stamina, primarily due to back issues that have not been fully resolved. I'm concerned because I keep hearing that the best way to stave off dementia is to stay active. It's very difficult (painful) for me.

I suppose we all slow down at different times.

I use a stable stationary bike to increase my physical activity with (hopefully less less risk of falling) - however I can't say my back never feels it. Controlling back pain as well as taking care of the brain (to the extent I can) are two of my goals.

 

[Ronstar]

Sorry to hear Aja - I hope the hospital can get your buddy well enough to return home soon. And hopefully well enough that he is not a big strain on his DW.

 

[MichaelB]

My mum’s 83 year old bridge partner fell when they were walking up the steps of a building on their way to their weekly game. He banged his head, got up, brushed it off, went inside and played normally for the rest of the afternoon.. That night he went to bed and never woke up.

Leg strength is critical to maintain balance and avoid falls. I’m not sure how physical fitness contributes to reduce the odds of dementia, but all the people I know who suffer cognitive decline have balance and leg strength issues, fall frequently and have difficulty getting up.

 

[Koolau]

I use a stable stationary bike to increase my physical activity with (hopefully less less risk of falling) - however I can't say my back never feels it. Controlling back pain as well as taking care of the brain (to the extent I can) are two of my goals.

Yeah, I've been w*rking at back pain issues for some time now. Neurostimulator installed and quarterly steroid injections. They help, but no cigar as they say.

 

[audreyh1]

As audreyh1 indicated sometimes a fall is a sign of other issues. I hope he recovers enough to goo home.

If his dementia has significantly progressed I don’t see how his wife can care for him at home. I guess they were managing before the fall.

 

[aja8888]

If his dementia has significantly progressed I don’t see how his wife can care for him at home.

She's indicated she doesn't feel like she can. They don't have children to help, either. My guess is he will have to be put into assisted living. Money is not a problem, either.

She's pretty frail herself and tiny in size (maybe 5'2" 110 pounds).

 

[Koolau]

I was helping my dad in my early 40s. It was not always easy at that age. I can't imagine a frail woman in her 80s offering much physical assistance. God bless her.

 

[joesxm3]

My aunt tried to take care of her demented husband at home and it was a disaster. She tried sedating him with whiskey. He eventually grabbed her arm and broke it and he went for a few "walks" as well. It nearly killed her but the put him in care.

Heck, at 64 caring for my mom and stepdad pushed me to the brink and they were in control of their faculties for the most part.

 

[Koolau]

Back in the "good old days" whole families cooperated to care for the demented loved ones. Mostly, those days are over. Kids move away. The extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws and out-laws are scattered. We've adopted a new paradigm of elder care - basically, it's do what you can until you can't and then use a nursing home. Sad but, with enough money, it can w*rk.

 

[harllee]

Here at my CCRC we have frequent sessions on how to avoid falls, sessions on the best ways to fall if you are unavoidably falling (best to fall on your butt) and sessions how to get up from a fall. Most of the older residents wear a call button at all times. So far DH and I do not wear the call button (probably should) but we are almost always together and carry our cell phones when we leave our apartment

 

[Ronstar]

Here at my CCRC we have frequent sessions on how to avoid falls, sessions on the best ways to fall if you are unavoidably falling (best to fall on your butt) and sessions how to get up from a fall. Most of the older residents wear a call button at all times. So far DH and I do not wear the call button (probably should) but we are almost always together and carry our cell phones when we leave our apartment

I can see how falling on your butt is best. I went hiking on some hilly, slippery terrain last week. Not snowy/icy enough for ice spikes, but hidden patches of ice. I had a few slips mostly going downhill, the kind where I would have fallen on my butt if I had a full fall.

But I was overly conscious of falling on my butt/back since I had a backpack full of camera gear. I didn't want to damage that.

But I did manage a good fall frontwards on a muddy slope. Landed partially on my hands with my backpack flying over my head onto my chest, so I did land somewhat on the backpack anyway. The backpack probably saved me from smashing my face into the mud.

 

[Dtail]

I wish your friend all the best and as best a recovery that he can achieve.

 

[aja8888]

I wish your friend all the best and as best a recovery that he can achieve.

Thanks, I'm going to visit him this evening.