My 85-year-old Grandfather fell yesterday

[Roon]

He slipped on the ice while taking the garbage out. He did a face plant on the asphalt and broke some ribs and his neck. Now they are putting him in a home until he heals. I feel terrible. I am at my Grandparents' house at 3:00PM every day and my Grandfather will have me take their garbage out. But I was late yesterday and he took the garbage himself. That's when he fell...He gashed his face up pretty good too, they superglued the wounds shut.

[Shell Beau]

1. Aw!! Falls are devastating for elderly people!

Hope he heals well!! :hug:

[Roon]

3. Yes!

At least he didn't break his hip!

[lizziegrace]

2. Easier said than done

but please don't beat yourself up. Was the trash picked up yesterday or was it being put out for today?

I'm sorry your grandfather hurt himself and hope he heals quickly.

:hug:

[Roon]

4. We have a dumpster that gets picked up once a week

doesn't matter really when you throw the garbage in. There is always room for one more bag.

[Flaxbee]

5. yes, please don't beat yourself up...

sounds like you help out a lot, and that there was no real urgency to get the trash out, he (having free will and all that) just decided to do it himself - nothing you could have done to prevent it. I am very sorry he's hurt so badly; I hope he heals well and quickly.

[Roon]

10. Thanks

[wildhorses]

6. oh dear-- my sympathy. i hope he heals quickly.

:hug:

[mvd]

7. Sorry to hear that - hope he heals

I wouldn't blame yourself. You sound very committed to him.

[Roon]

12. I am comitted to him

that's what makes this so hard. I was ten minutes late and this happens.

[mvd]

17. Oh, I know, that bad luck is hard

It's just that I wouldn't blame yourself. Here's a :hug:

[Roon]

19. Thanks for the hug!

eom

[Left Is Write]

8. I'm sorry - my best thoughts for healing for him. Please don't blame yourself.

:hug:

[Roon]

13. Thanks for the hugs

eom

[Cabcere]

9. Hope your Grandfather heals well and soon!

:hug: I'll be thinking about him (and you). And, like others have said, please don't blame yourself for this. Sending good vibes your way! :hi:

[Roon]

14. Thanks for the vibes..he says he is feeling better

of course, he is stoned on morphine. So we'll see....

[Roon]

11. Thanks to all who responded, I need to go to bed now

My Grandmother needs me to take her to the hospital tomorrow. So I must hit the hay...

[idgiehkt]

15. good night, Roon

:hug:

That sounds terrible, he broke his neck? Good grief. I hope he heals quickly and gets completely back to normal, I know that must have been a scary event.

Another :hug:

[Roon]

16. The bleeding was the worse

I TOLD him we need to call an ambulance..He said "no, no!" I am alright. Three hours later we finally called him an ambulance. The EMTS did a GREAT job of boarding him, strapping him, and getting him into the ambulance. I am off to bed now. I will update later.

[Roon]

18. Just wanted to add

The hospital is so busy they don't have morphine pumps for everyone. So my Grandfather has to call and beg a nurse to give him his morphine manually. It's BULLshit!!

[idgiehkt]

20. That is infuriating.

You just better make like Shirley Maclaine in "Terms of Endearment", you hear?
:hug:

[Roon]

21. AN UPDATE!!

He is sitting in a chair today and doing his physical therapy!!!! He will be home sooner rather than later! Thanks you all for the support!!

[idgiehkt]

26. good to hear!

I know that is a relief and a load off your mind. :hug:

[Roon]

27. It is

I was thinking he wasn't going to be home for months, but now it looks like days! Thanks for the hugs!

[crim son]

28. So glad to hear it.

My grandmother slipped on a salamander when she was 82. She fell backwards onto the parking lot but managed not to smash her head. Nothing was broken and we were amazed. It's scary how fragile the elderly are.

[Roon]

31. They are indeed fragile

This fall really messed my Grandfather up.

[uppityperson]

22. Thanks for the update, hope he continues to do well & gets home soon.

[Roon]

24. We need him here..The Grandmother can't sleep without him

eom

[u4ic]

23. I missed the original post

but I'm glad he's doing well, Roon. Falls in the elderly are definitely a cause for concern.

It sounds like you're very close to him. :-)

[Roon]

25. Yeah, we share a duplex, they live on the other side

I am the reason they haven't been put in a home yet. I am home on disability and my job is to be on call for anything they may need. Part of that was suppose to take out the garbage, but my Grandfather is so stubborn.

[NC_Nurse]

29. Oh, Roon!

It's not your fault. I know how you feel, I have several elderly relatives I wish I could do more for all the time. But that doesn't mean I'm responsible for
everything that happens to them. I'm glad he's doing as well as he is. I hope maybe next time he waits for you to take the garbage out.

:hug:

[Roon]

32. He won't have a choice next time

This has been such a rough winter..stomach flu going around..snowing every week...subzero temps...I just can't wait until spring.

[NC_Nurse]

35. Fortunately all my people who are in need...

are in the South. I feel for you.

BTW, I hear you on the stubborn thing. Doesn't it seem that people get more stubborn and obsessive the older they get???

Geez, if the garbage doesn't get out by 3pm, the WORLD might end! :eyes:

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

30. thank goodness he is improving

It's so hard to watch our grandparents and parents age. I hope your grandfather makes a full recovery soon.

[Roon]

33. Yes it is hard

He is so stubborn, it's going to be the end of him, I'm afraid.

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

34. love every second you have with him

I mean EVERY SECOND. My father died 5 months ago and I would give anything to have him back.

[Roon]

36. I do and will!

:-)