Falling down at an old age - lost a friend recently

[simple girl]

You have to train to maintain your balance system as you age, just like you have to do aerobic training and strength training. Use it or lose it.

Maintaining your balance requires 3 systems:

1) your visual system
2) your vestibular system
3) your proprioceptive system (proper sensation of muscle and joint position and reaction)

Lose one of the systems...now you are really at risk and have to compensate with the other two. Loss of two systems... even higher risk.

This is why dark environments are especially dangerous as we age. Don't underestimate the need for night lights!

You can train these systems with specific balance training programs. Those at high fall risk should do so with a physical therapist until able to train safely on their own.

If you are still in great shape and can safely do balance exercises on your own, make sure you add balance training to your regular exercise program now and do it for life. Again, use it or lose it!

 

[Pineapple13]

One of my ROMEO group members, a widower who was in his early to mid 80's and fairly healthy, had a fall when going into a local eatery about 10 days ago. He hit face first on the concrete and cut up his nose and forehead, but did not get medical attention at the time. He went home and had a bad headache and his sister convinced him to go to the ER.

At the ER, they rebandaged his wounds and did a cat scan of his brain, which didn't indicate any issues. Since he was not feeling all that great (we don't exactly know what he was feeling like at that time), they put him in for overnight observation and essentially admitted him for a few days (ended up a week). We visited him a time or two and he was anxious to get out and resume life. The day before his discharge, he contracted pneumonia and was kept in the hospital. This was last Wednesday and by Friday morning, he passed away. So sudden...

Point in case, falling at an old age is not good and hospitals are full of germs/viruses/etc that can take out an older person.

Maintaining muscle mass but especially core strength and balance is incredibly important to avoiding falls as we age. Study after study shows that healthy aging is tied to fitness. Measures of strength and balance such as how long we can stand on one foot and can we get up from a seated position without using our arms are correlated with longevity. If you're not doing weight bearing exercise at least 2 to 3 times a week, start now. There are so many at home resources to get you started. I use YouTube. I'm so sorry for your loss, but he absolutely needed to be evaluated for his head injury. Anytime we hit our head we could have a brain bleed which is dangerous. But as to why he was admitted, there's not enough info to know. Hindsight is always 20-20, but sometimes we make the best decision we can with the information we have and it turns out to be the wrong one. Thanks for sharing your cautionary tale.

 

[ivinsfan]

Sadly I just heard from a high school classmate that one of our classmates just died when slipping and falling at a local eatery. He hit his head on something on the way down and spent several days on a vent.. A wonderful guy, always had a smile on his face, beloved by literally everyone. RIP Billy..

 

[Allytx]

I’m sorry for the loss of your friend. I had a terrible fall yesterday and hit my head hard on the kitchen cabinet. We have ceramic tile floors and I slipped on something wet. As I was flying through the air, I was trying to avoid hitting my head on the hard tile, and thankfully hit the cabinet instead. I feel ok. My husband wants to take me to the doctor today, just to make sure. I’m starting to realize I’m older than I thought.

 

[aja8888]

I’m sorry for the loss of your friend. I had a terrible fall yesterday and hit my head hard on the kitchen cabinet. We have ceramic tile floors and I slipped on something wet. As I was flying through the air, I was trying to avoid hitting my head on the hard tile, and thankfully hit the cabinet instead. I feel ok. My husband wants to take me to the doctor today, just to make sure. I’m starting to realize I’m older than I thought.

Good idea getting checked out as some problems can surface a significant time after the fall.

 

[Ronstar]

Found out that my former boss' wife recently fell down the basement stairs bringing snacks to her grandchildren. She's well enough to get out but sore all over.

For those of us in the tundra, this time of year is especially dangerous. We don't have the footing on ice that we once had. I hear lots of stories of slipping/falling on ice. And never keep your hands in your coat pockets while walking on ice. You can't get your hands out of your pockets fast enough to protect yourself from the fall.

 

[aja8888]

Found out that my former boss' wife recently fell down the basement stairs bringing snacks to her grandchildren. She's well enough to get out but sore all over.

For those of us in the tundra, this time of year is especially dangerous. We don't have the footing on ice that we once had. I hear lots of stories of slipping/falling on ice. And never keep your hands in your coat pockets while walking on ice. You can't get your hands out of your pockets fast enough to protect yourself from the fall.

When walking my dog (3 times a day), I wear good leather mechanics gloves, and have my trusty walking stick. Good points about walking with your hands in your pockets, which I never do anyway.

 

[Chuckanut]

People concerned with falling and breaking a hip can buy a special undergarment that has gel padding on the sides to protect the hip. This assumes the sequence is first the person falls, then the hip breaks. I have no idea if this actually works.

The other sequence is that a hip bone breaks (like the femur head), then the person falls. I can’t see the padding doing much to prevent the fall but it might reduce further damage to the hip from the fall.

 

[yclipse]

One of my ROMEO group members, a widower who was in his early to mid 80's and fairly healthy, had a fall when going into a local eatery about 10 days ago. He hit face first on the concrete and cut up his nose and forehead, but did not get medical attention at the time. He went home and had a bad headache and his sister convinced him to go to the ER.

At the ER, they rebandaged his wounds and did a cat scan of his brain, which didn't indicate any issues. Since he was not feeling all that great (we don't exactly know what he was feeling like at that time), they put him in for overnight observation and essentially admitted him for a few days (ended up a week). We visited him a time or two and he was anxious to get out and resume life. The day before his discharge, he contracted pneumonia and was kept in the hospital. This was last Wednesday and by Friday morning, he passed away. So sudden...

Point in case, falling at an old age is not good and hospitals are full of germs/viruses/etc that can take out an older person.

This is a good place to repeat a recommendation I have made many times as a lawyer who does estate planning. It is particularly important in our snowy and cold winter location. I do it myself.

Once you get into your late 60s, and particularly in winter conditions, always use a walking stick when going anywhere. It is amazing how much more stability you have on three points vs. two.

 

[rembrandt]

This is a good place to repeat a recommendation I have made many times as a lawyer who does estate planning. It is particularly important in our snowy and cold winter location. I do it myself.

Once you get into your late 60s, and particularly in winter conditions, always use a walking stick when going anywhere. It is amazing how much more stability you have on three points vs. two.

Get a nice shillelagh.

 

[Ronstar]

I rarely go hiking without one of these.

And Microspikes in the winter. I've seen hikers fall on ice, but I have never even slipped with these on.

 

[finnski1]

I rarely go hiking without one of these.

View attachment 54009

And Microspikes in the winter. I've seen hikers fall on ice, but I have never even slipped with these on.

View attachment 54010View attachment 54011

Yeah. I go thru about a pair of microspikes a year hiking my local mountain all winter. Lots of rock,snow and ice. I don't use hiking sticks or poles though.

 

[rathail]

Sad situation.
I have always known and have tried to show the wife how to fall, or what not to do when she falls. She has balance issues and she tends to pretty much go stiff. I have been able to catch her a few times but I am not always close enough.
I have fallen many times doing risky things but have had no serious injuries. (Hope I didn't just jinx myself) I don't fight the fall. I redirect the motion if possible.
This is more about if you are still able to, learn.
But, I finally saw an article about learning how to fall.

Falling Correctly Isn't Just Luck. It's a Skill. - The Organic Prepper

Falling correctly isn't just luck. It's a skill, and one you should learn to protect your bones, your head, and possibly even your life.

www.theorganicprepper.com

 

[Music Lover]

As has been said before, knowing how to fall is only part of it. You also need muscle mass and strength.

The mass protects your bones if you don't fall right. The strength can help you catch your step or decelerate safely, for example, falling into a pushup position and not smashing your face into the ground.

 

[rathail]

There were a lot of aspects about falling that I did not speak to.
More to the point is if you are able to learn it would be something to address.

 

[street]

I never go walking anyplace of trail without a ski pole, ever no matter what the conditions are. That pole comes in handy for many things when in the back country and off trail of any sort.

 

[Chuckanut]

I never go walking anyplace of trail without a ski pole, ever no matter what the conditions are. That pole comes in handy for many things when in the back country and off trail of any sort.

Agreed. Having a hiking pole of some type is a great advantage.

 

[ls99]

I never go walking anyplace of trail without a ski pole, ever no matter what the conditions are. That pole comes in handy for many things when in the back country and off trail of any sort.

Ditto.

 

[athena53]

Anytime we hit our head we could have a brain bleed which is dangerous.

My late husband had two falls a few years apart that each resulted in a brain bleed (subdural hematoma). Both times he went to the ER because he had a severe headache. Unfortunately, one left him with dystopia- unable to sense the position of his left foot- which made him even more vulnerable to falls. It did limit his activities. I remember getting out of the subway in London, having to lug our bags up the steps and then having to go back down and help DH up the steps. (Yeah, we should have taken taxis.)

 

[Richard4444]

A close friend of mine had COPD, 81 y o, was on portable oxygen, tripped and fell over the oxygen tubing at a local deli and broke his hip. During orthopedic surgery they used general anesthesia rather than spinal anesthesia, and he came out on a vent in ICU... passed a few weeks later still in ICU. I believe if spinal anes was used this wouldn't have happened and don't know why general anes was chosen; however, maybe I'm wrong. Just very upsetting

Rich

 

[aja8888]

A close friend of mine had COPD, 81 y o, was on portable oxygen, tripped and fell over the oxygen tubing at a local deli and broke his hip. During orthopedic surgery they used general anesthesia rather than spinal anesthesia, and he came out on a vent in ICU... passed a few weeks later still in ICU. I believe if spinal anes was used this wouldn't have happened and don't know why general anes was chosen; however, maybe I'm wrong. Just very upsetting

Rich

Sorry to hear about your friend's passing.

I had both hips replaced over a few years period (wore out - last one at 75 years old) and the current tech under Medicare is a "pain block" in the hip area and then they put you under a general (but my understanding it's not that heavy a dose). I woke up and went home the same day.

 

[Koolau]

Sorry to hear about your friend's passing.

I had both hips replaced over a few years period (wore out - last one at 75 years old) and the current tech under Medicare is a "pain block" in the hip area and then they put you under a general (but my understanding it's not that heavy a dose). I woke up and went home the same day.

That's amazing. I would think they would want to at least observe you for a day or two - and start rehab right there in the hospital. Glad it w*rked out so well for you.

 

[aja8888]

That's amazing. I would think they would want to at least observe you for a day or two - and start rehab right there in the hospital. Glad it w*rked out so well for you.

Only if your doctor deems it necessary. My doc said I was OK to go after walking down the hall a few times. I din't even have PT, just told to walk each day. Medicare want you out ASAP!

 

[Koolau]

Only if your doctor deems it necessary. My doc said I was OK to go after walking down the hall a few times. I din't even have PT, just told to walk each day. Medicare want you out ASAP!

Heh, heh, I wonder if the doc was in a financial relationship that made it advantageous to him to kick you out early? (Just musing, here. )

 

[aja8888]

Heh, heh, I wonder if the doc was in a financial relationship that made it advantageous to him to kick you out early? (Just musing, here. )

LOL!! no, Medicare wants you out the same day for knee or hip replacements. I was scheduled for OR at 6:00 am and in recovery by 9 or so. I had lunch, walked the halls and then went home at 2:00 PM.