Fred Elder, Please Don’t Fall

Winter is closing in.  We just had between 10” and 12” of new snow where I live.  Further, you and I are not nearly as adroit nor as limber as we were when at East High School.  So, you need to remember to always pick up your toes (so you do not catch a toe and go down), look where you are stepping, take reasonable length strides (weather dependent), and wear well-fitting, properly tied shoes.  Also, remember, if you need to bend over to pick up something, your balance is not nearly as good as it used to be – find something to hang on to for stability.

Why this article?  Well, winter approaches, but also we have had four classmates fall recently.  Two were Parkinson patients, one fell down the stairs, and one fell out of bed.  Here are the results from the Parkinson patients we know of who fell.  One has a broken arm and one suffered a broken hip.  The one who went the wrong way down stairs is wearing a 24-hour-a-day neck brace for the next 12 weeks and the other person is bed-ridden in a nursing home far from family and can not travel.

None of this sounds very good, does it?  Perhaps it sounds gloomy enough that you will be careful and not fall.  Try to think about not falling each and every time you walk.  If nothing else, look for a ‘soft’ place to land if you do fall and ALWAYS protect your head!  Going over backward is the worst.  Always consider how you will ‘force’ yourself to fall forward or sideways it you are unfortunate enough to fall.

Then of course, there are preventative things you can do around your house.  Here are some ideas from the National Institute of Health.  Click the link to see the ideas.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMIvtq2jrDk

You can also take classes to improve balance, prevent falls, and learn to fall safely. YMCAs, hospitals, and clinic gyms help seniors develop muscle memory that can kick in if you start to fall. These locations also offer a variety of specialty classes to help Parkinson’s patients increase their strength, agility, and balance. Websites for YMCAs, Silver Sneakers, and others offer online exercises for seniors. 

So, what does the author know about this?  Well, he is a Parkinson’s patient (not one of those mentioned) who fell on black ice three years ago and ended up in the hospital with seven broken ribs and a punctured lung.  As he was by himself at the time of his fall, he also had to get up and walk some six blocks home.  A trip to urgent care soon turned into a trip to the hospital and three nights in the hospital, after a stop in ER.  Plus, some new, lifetime, medication.  Not much fun.  I do not recommend it.

So, be safe and watch your balance and footing.