page 5 pride comes before a fall

Page 5

Pride comes before a fall,

Does that include slips?

I did approach mother about the use of different mobility aids around the house and garden. Which were all dispatched with a firm NO especially not ramps.

Mother definitely needed some extra support her legs were rapidly getting worse, which affected her walking. Thing is what could I do.

Then the one thing I had been dreading happened. I called on mother as normal to take her out, the curtains were still closed and door locked. Thank goodness I had talked her into giving me a key.

Going in I called “hello, where are you?”

“I’m in here” very informative but at least she answered and there she was sat on the floor at the side of the bed.

“How did you get down there? Are you in any pain?”

“No. I am fine I just sat on the side of the bed and slipped, I knew you would be here soon so I didn’t panic” I got mother to straighten  her legs without my help and she was fine, no wincing or other sign of pain. So I put a pillow on the floor for her head and fetched a blanket.

“What are you doing I need to get up not lie down”

“Yes you do but I can’t lift you by myself. The paramedics will need to help out”

“You don’t need to call them, I can manage”

“Why are you still down there then? Just lie down and get warm under the blanket”

“No help me up” mother was adamant. The only way I was going to win here was to prove to her that I could not get her up. So I got behind her and asked if she could bend her knees, keeping her feet flat on the floor. No, it was impossible her legs were to painful.so I fetched the phone dialed 999 and explained the situation, their ever so good and sent an ambulance out straight away.

“Oh dear I am such a nuisance aren’t I” declared mother to the paramedics. “I only slipped of the bed I’m not hurt” mother can be so frustrating at times.

Well they did their checks to make sure everything was all intact and declared mother fit to be lifted. The gadgets they have now are brilliant. A flat cushion is placed underneath the person on the floor and slowly pumped up until they are in a sitting position and able to stand. Mother was amazed.

“Oh that was easy, what a wonderful idea” we could do with one of those.

“Yes mother it also means that know one gets hurt trying to lift you off the floor” see I was right moment.

The paramedics laughed and agreed that calling them is the most sensible thing to do. They completed their paper work and left.

Mother was very shaky for a few days, which is understandable, she also felt unsafe when walking. I did buy a rubber mat to go by her bed which reduced the risk of slipping, but mother was really unnerved. This was the time I readdressed the issue of mobility aids.

“How about looking at some walking aids to see which you would like. Even if you decide not, at least you have looked” (subtle or what)

“OK, but just to keep you happy” so off we went out to the car, mother even held my arm then stopped.

“You drive I don’t feel up to it”

“Mother I can’t I need to be on your insurance policy”

“You are, I put you on it the other day so come on”

You could knock me down with a feather. Mother must be more shaken than I thought. I drove to the disability shop, parking close to the door and in we went. Mother was amazed by the selection of walking aids they had and agreed to a walker (for in the garden only) with a seat on it and a trolley for in the house, because she wouldn’t need to carry things any more.

Absolutely brilliant! I got mother in to the car and the gadgets loaded quickly before she could change her mind. (Phew.)

Well it took a fall but we got there in the end.


Until next time

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