OMG taking LO home from rehab following a fall. She's been physically ready to go back to her apartment for at least a week and has been getting around really well. Took her for a long walk around the facility a few days ago without any issues. Care meeting yesterday and they agreed that it was time to send her home. Showed up to get her. She always gets in the car unassisted. She seemed at least equal to her baseline before rehab so I saw no reason to not believe she could get in the car as usual.
Boy was I wrong! She was halfway in the car so I turned around to put her walker in the trunk and boom. Down she went. Luckily I was close enough to catch her head on my shin and kept her from hitting her head again (like her last fall in her kitchen). But she was screaming about her ankle. I got help from the facility (by screaming like a banshee - so embarrassing!) and they loaded her into my car to take her to the ER.
5 hours later - she's taken by ambulance BACK to the facility I just got her out of!
Long, stressful, lousy day.
You bet I was wiped out from the adrenaline. And the boredom of being in the ER all bloody day. Stupid covid rules only allows one visitor with them - so hubby could not come relieve me after work since I was her one visitor. I couldn't leave without making sure that she was all set. Decision making and hearing are not her strong suits so to leave her alone is not the best plan. If I HAD to go, sure, she would have been "OK" but just not optimal.
Hubby and I are pretty sure that she's going to do too much and fall again. Guess it's just the way things are going to be.
Hubby is meeting her at the podiatrist tomorrow to see what's next. She has a splint they did in the ED. I wonder if he'll replace it or go to a cast or if they'll suggest surgery (which I read is very common for this type of an ankle break). That'll be a tough choice. At almost 95, surgery is not at the top of our list of things for her. BUT if she will be mobility challenged and in pain for the rest of her life, then maybe surgery is worth the risk? She is VERY healthy for her age! In better shape and health than people 20 or 30 years younger than her.
Or is it a nursing home placement and medicaid, etc.? Ugh. I really don't look forward to dealing with that freakin paperwork.
I guess we all have to kind of get over the "don't fall on my watch" worry. They fall in nursing homes all.the.time. So, how are we supposed to prevent it? I mean, as long as we're not being negligent, it's really not our fault, right? I am refusing to feel guilty about this fall. I have learned lessons for going forward that I WILL remain close to her to ensure that she doesn't fall getting into my car again but there are so many other ways that they can fall.
She has fallen MANY times in her apartment and it has amazed us that she has not seriously injured herself before now. It's a crazy life!
Fingers crossed for at least a decent outcome with her followup appt with podiatry.
I've been told over and over to NOT try to catch or break her if she falls--but it's human nature to try, isn't it?
I'm sorry for you and for your LO. That is a sucky day, for both of you.
Did the hospital do a bone density test? I am curious if she had a spontaneous break and fell vs she fell and broke her ankle. That would give you valuable information for how to proceed.
Great big warm hug!
This brought tears to my eyes.
It’s all so exhausting.
I'm so sorry this happened, wish you a good night's sleep.
But that sure sucks 😥
I hope your LO makes a full recovery I guess.........if that's the goal. One has to wonder after a while what the true goal is with these elders? To live to 100+? To keep going back & forth to the hospital and rehab to recover? Where is the quality of life? I have no idea myself, only that my mother has advanced dementia, is wheelchair bound with chronic pain, and does nothing but fall and fall and FALL anymore. God help them all, and us too.
Wishing you good luck coping with all that's on your plate.
You're right about not being able to make this stuff up. She was half way into the car when I turned my back! I guess I'll hover more in the future but geez!
A nurse told me she had almost the same thing happen. A patient was discharged to a nursing home. Promptly broke her hip and was back in the hospital 12 hours later! Hey, at least my LO waited 3 weeks!