OT: waiting on a call... hoping for the best...

I too am glad to hear that things are going about as well as could be hoped for. (Sorry for that trailing preposition. )

But a word about walkers. My 91-year-old aunt has been through all of this, and lives at a senior independent-living facility. She has a low-tech walker with two wheels. Many resident have spiffy-colored ones with 4 , hand brakes, and a seat. I question the saftey of these. If one loses their balance, and shift weight onto the walker, it may well just roll out from under, unless the brakes are applied. And, in mid-fall, who is composed and quick enough to remember, and get their hands to, those brakes?

I feel much better with her using the plain old-fashioned walker that is more likely help her in a fall.

ozij wrote:Since her bending may be limited in the beginning, she might probably need a slew of long armed mechanical "helpers" to help her: one that catches things that slipped to the floor, one that helps her put on socks or stockings, and a looooooog shoe horn -- if she uses shoe horns.

Paul, one of my friends recently broke her tail bone (I'd say cocxyx, but not sure how to spell it!). She insists the most useful invention to date is tongs. She has a long BBQ set, and uses them to pick up everything - it's amazing how many things you drop, or how many times you bend to the floor, and don't think about it until you can't!

jdm2857 wrote:...walkers....If one loses their balance, and shift weight onto the walker, it may well just roll out from under

I broke both left leg bones at the ankle in '87 requiring 2 large and 2 small pins, a cast to my knee, elevation above heart most of the day. I was too uncoordinated for crutches...if I could handle crutches, I wouldn't have fallen in the first place! I had first a non-wheeled walker, then a wheelchair (weee, mobility). After the cast was off and then splint, they taught me how to walk again...with the non-wheeled walker, 50 steps at first, I nearly cried from joy. From the walker, I graduated to one crutch, then to a cane. I would never have considered a wheeled walker as I needed to lean on it, heavily. Aluminum is light and easy to move. We wrapped the arm holds with that mattress egg crate stuff for extrra cushioning because I had to put so much weight on the walker...black and blue palms are not fun, believe me.

I have been taking a look at the assistive devices at the web site for a local store...

http://www.ottawa.medichair.com/

...and was thinking the same thing about the wheeled walkers. If the brakes are not engaged the wheeled walker can roll away leaving no support.

I plan on visiting the store to see what items I might pickup that would be helpful. I'm told to not bother with walkers or bathroom assistive devices as they will provide those... so I was going to look for the other smaller handy devices they may not provide.

Those tongs is also an excellent idea... although I plan on being there when she comes home so I can pickup things that land on the floor.

Hi Paul--So glad to hear your mom is on the mend and beginning to get a little movement in now. It will be so nice for her to get back to her own hometown hospital, but I agree that is a smart way to have the hospitals set up where they can each concentrate on one or two specialties. I am also glad to hear that your mom has not had to go on dialysis yet and that her kidneys have stabilized. That's wonderful. I bet the nurses are loving your mom...she sounds like a very sweet lady!! I hope she continues getting along well in her recovery. I bet she will be so glad to have you there with her when she gets home. Take care, and give your mom lots of love from all of us here!! Tell her we are all cheering for her and wishing her a speedy recovery!!
Cindy

Paul, I've not had any experience with broken hips, but when my MIL had a hip replacement, she was not allowed to sit in chairs under a certain height. I'm sure the hospital staff or someone will talk to you about this, but make sure that she has a chair that will serve her heeling when she comes home.

The wheel-less walkers are extremely easy to use. I've had 2 family members who used those and did quite well.

Jane

I am glad to hear your mother will be coming back to her hometown soon... That has got to be a relief to her as well as you... I will continue to keep her in my prayers and pray for a swift as possible recovery

Paul, sorry I missed sending you a cyber hug!!! {{{{{Paul}}}}}}}

How horrible for you, feeling like you caused your Mom's fall. {{{{{Paul}}}}}

On the flip side, she could have fallen on her own at any time. I tripped for no good reason on Saturday and really banged the crap out of my left knee. I think I really damaged the miniscus (sp?) AGAIN. I may never kneel again... sigh... Can you tell I've done this before? I spent several years recovering from that last fall. I wish I could claim I was at least attempting to walk and chew gum at the time.... Nope, just walking down the street...

Anyway, my point - it's not your fault, forgive yourself. {{{{{{Paul}}}}}}}

I've had folks on walkers all over the place. We're big fans of the two-wheeled variety in my household. The handy seat on the 4 wheelers really draws me, though. Haven't managed to go there yet, though, for all the same worries you have.

Don't forget the tennis balls. You can buy them from a DME for about $6 a pack or make your own. They are the best things for the back posts. You will be SHOCKED at what the posts can do to your floors. I don't trust those silicone slider things they sell instead of tennis balls. I have experience with tennis balls, and they work. Good enough for me.

Hip surgery has come a long way in the last few years. My grandma had a BAD broken hip, and it was a real major surgery, but it healed JUST FINE! But her mind didn't. All her sisters had died after breaking their hips. She just laid down and let herself die. Sad, really.

Keep you mom's spirits up, and tell her every day what she has to live for.

{{{{{{Paul}}}}}}}}
B.

Those tongs is also an excellent idea..

Check out the automotive department too. My dad had a nifty device that the kids always loved to play with It was a grip with a long stick and little curved prongs. AS you gripped it tight - the prongs would open up and let you pick things up, let go of the grip and they held the object tight. It means you don't need pressure when you are hauling things up - unlike tongs. Mechanics use them to pick up objects they drop in the engine and their hands don't fit down the cracks.

I visited this place this morning to give me an idea of what is available...

http://www.ottawa.medichair.com/

There are a lot of devices available. I am holding off an making too many purchases just yet because I'm not certain why they will be providing her with up there.

However, I did purchase a "Handi-Reacher"...

http://ayudasdinamicas.com/AD3/images/s ... _h8056.jpg

I was thinking... WOW... even I could use something like this from time to time so I KNOW my mom will use it. I suspect they will just give her the basic items up there... walker, raised toilet seat and perhaps a device to ease access to the tub.

Fortunately, these stores are franchises and there is one only about 1.5 hour drive from where my mom lives. So while I'm up there if there are additional items she needs I can scoot down there... who knows maybe by that time mom will be up for a car ride.

Thanks Babs... much appreciated. <hugs back at ya>

That is what had me so scared... I've heard of older people having hip fractures and that being the end of them. I don't think that is going to happen with this situation. She is getting very good care, there were significant delays with surgery (happened 30 hours after the incident) and she sounds good on the phone.

I had one of the basic aluminum walker when I had my hip replaced. I got a carpenter's apron with several pockets to tie on the front of the walker so that I could carry things easily and have things handy. It's so easy to not have what you need near you when you are using a walker. I carried a cordless phone, a book, my reacher and I can't remember what else. She will need to be walking but not overdoing it. I also used it to set the table - carrying things in the pockets to eliminate as many trips. You may think you will do things like that but the more independence you give your mother, within reason, the better for her recovery and her spirits.

The reacher is very handy. You say you will be there to pick things up if they fall or are on the floor. I'll bet she'll try to pick them up without thinking and you won't even know. With a reacher, she is reminded that she shouldn't do that for a while.

There are things you will find that will be useful as her recovery progresses. Good there is a medical supply store reasonably close. The people who do this for a living are trained to think of almost everything but there is always some little gadget that will make things easier.

Mom was moved back to her hometown hospital today. They left at 11am and arrived around 1:30pm. She is down in emergency waiting for a bed upstairs which they say will happen this evening.

Everyone says she is doing really well. Apparently they usually still have an IV but she doesn't have one. She does have a catheter to reduce the getting up/down. That will be removed as soon as they have her a little more mobile. Physical therapy will start immediately as soon as she is settled.

Apparently they put in a prosthesis... so it seems like they replaced the hip joint after all.

The doc asked her if there would be anyone at home for her... she said no. Grrrrrr! I said to her yesterday to tell them I would be there when they are ready to release her... and if they want to release her sooner to let them know this. I told her friend today to make sure they understand I *WILL* be there when they think she can go home with some help.

Hawthorne... I like your advice about leaving her with her independence and being there when necessary. That is a great point.

CARPENTER'S APRON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh what a GREAT IDEA!!!! I wish I'd thought of that 20 years ago when I was on crutches for the whole summer. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The worst thing is that you can hobble here and there, but you can't carry anything. I could stand and make dinner, but someone had to carry it to the table for me. I lucked out at work - I worked for the local newspaper, and they promptly gave me a newsboy's sack and I could carry my paperwork from one office to another in that.

Suddenly realizing a little wheeled cart like I have in the office to tote stuff about would have been a god-send at home 20 years ago.... Make it counter height, and put small wheels on it. You could buy some old cabinet or table or something at the thrift store and put wheels on it, and it would be fine. Put the plate on that, push it along to the table. DME's take note. You could sell us Library and Food Service Carts from Rubbermaid, and trust me, we would buy them. I use the heck out of my Rubbermaid Food Service cart here at the office.

Paul, you're right to WAIT to buy anything. My Mom had to restrain me from buying my stepdad the moon when he became disabled. My reaction to any crisis - GO SHOPPING!

But the reacher/grabber thing is just handy for EVERYONE. Good purchase!

Hugs all around,
B.

Paul - about her independence - that will be very important as she recovers so that she feels she can recover and still do a lot of things. She needs to know that and actually do as much as she can for herself. As time goes by, that will be more and more so let her do as much as she wants to do as long as you know it is safe for her. Count on the medical people, especially the physiotherapist, to know what she should try as her recovery proceeds.

If she is a little down, you may need to encourage her to try some things that you know she can do without harm so she can see that she will be able to do lots again.

I think you need to know for certain whether or not she did, in fact, have a total hip replacement or has pins in her hip. She needs to know that as well.

By the way, the carpenter's apron on my walker when I went through this was my husband's idea! I have to give credit where credit is due!

Sounds like things are progressing well though. It will take time.