topic Re: Dad Took a Tumble Today in Community Chat

Dad Took a Tumble Today

Plaid Pants2 — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 02:32:02 GMT

My 89 year old dad and I live in the same apartment complex. He has his apartment, I have mine. This way, he still has his independence, and I can keep an eye on him.

He no longer drives (know anybody that would be interested in a 1986 Nissan pick-up, that needs a lot of bodywork?), so I take him to run errands.

Today, we did some errand running, which included grocery shopping.

When we got home, Dad was getting out of the car, while I was at the trunk, starting to gather the bags of groceries.

I had one bag on my arm, when I heard a commotion.

I looked up, and saw my dad stumbling around. He had gotten off balance, and he was struggling to regain his balance.

When I saw that he was going to go down, I took one and a half giant steps towards him, stuck my arms out, widened my stance, when his back was to me, I grabbed him, wrapped my arms around his torso, absorbed his momentum, and used my body to cushion the fall as we both went down.

When we landed, my legs were on the outside of his.

I didn't fight the momentum, or the energy of the fall. I went with it.

I was afraid of my dad hitting his head on the cement sidewalk, if he fell.

Two neighbors were there to help him up, and they each took an arm, and walked him to his apartment, and sat him on his couch, while I got the bags of groceries.

Once inside, Dad told me that he finally agrees that he should use his four-footed cane to help him with balance.

So, that was the excitement for my day.

I am just glad that I was able to catch him in his fall.

I shudder to think about what might have happened if I hadn't.

Re: Dad Took a Tumble Today

alliswell — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 02:38:23 GMT

Thank goodness you were there for him and I hope You're OK.

Re: Dad Took a Tumble Today

Plaid Pants2 — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 02:44:09 GMT

I'm fine. I didn't get hurt.

Re: Dad Took a Tumble Today

Dell1 — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 02:45:53 GMT

You're a good daughter. I commend you for all you do taking care of your Father. I only hope to have the love and caring from my children as you do for your Father.

Re: Dad Took a Tumble Today

Lila Belle — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 02:46:16 GMT

How frightening for you both!

Re: Dad Took a Tumble Today

JustJazzmom — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 02:50:40 GMT

I'm glad you both were not injured. Your guardian angels were watching you both!

Re: Dad Took a Tumble Today

RedTop — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 02:52:12 GMT

So glad you were able to avert what could have been a very bad situation! I do hope your dad starts using his cane for stabilizing himself, as obviously he is at great risk for falling.

The way you latched onto your dad and fell with him is exactly what a relative of mine who was an RN in the hospital did with a patient who passed out. The patient was a large woman, and my cousin was not positioned just right for the perfect catch and lowering to the floor, which resulted in a back injury that ultimately led to her disability.

Re: Dad Took a Tumble Today

Daisy Sunflower — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 08:49:16 GMT

Sorry this happened. You're lucky you both weren't hurt.

Re: Dad Took a Tumble Today

Moonchilde — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 03:00:49 GMT

OMG, what a fortunate thing you were right there and basically absorbed his fall. It could have been a lot worse, which I'm sure you're aware.

Not a good happening, but maybe a 'good' scare if it got him to think about always using his cane. Sometimes little warnings can have positive outcomes. Glad you afe both okay.

Re: Dad Took a Tumble Today

GCR18 — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 03:02:41 GMT

Falling is serious business. I get really angry when people laugh at the I've fallen and can't get up commercials. I find nothing funny about them. My maternal grandmother fell twice. She broke her hip and ended up in a nursing home with no will to live. Thankfully your father was okay.

Re: Dad Took a Tumble Today

Kachina624 — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 05:17:48 GMT

@GCR18 wrote:
Falling is serious business. I get really angry when people laugh at the I've fallen and can't get up commercials. I find nothing funny about them. My maternal grandmother fell twice. She broke her hip and ended up in a nursing home with no will to live. Thankfully your father was okay.

Absolutely true. A friend who lives near me, called to tell me she was on the floor and couldn't get up. I dropped everything and went to help her. I couldn't lift her and between us she couldn't get up. I ended up calling 911 and asked them to quietly send a couple of firemen to help her. They appeared very fast and had her up in no time.

Re: Dad Took a Tumble Today

tansy — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 05:39:54 GMT

You sure reacted quickly in an emergency, Plaid Pants. I'm glad neither of you were hurt and I hope he sticks with his decision to use that cane.

Re: Dad Took a Tumble Today

Irshgrl31201 — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 05:55:26 GMT

Awww PP, this post got me choked up. I am so glad you are there for your dad. I think that is wonderful. Today I babysat my almost 2 yr old grandson and just watching him, playing with him today and helping him with something small I was just thinking, we are there for them when they are young to help them and guide them and they are there for us when we get older and need help (in optimal situations). I have been thinking about this so much lately because the past 6 months or so I have noticed my mom is getting really forgetful. We have an appt in July for her but I am getting a little worried. Mortality and things of that nature have been on my mind a lot.

I am glad you were there to catch him so he didn't fall too. You are a good daughter. From stories you have shared, you seem to have such a great relationship with your dad. It is nice to hear. Thanks for sharing this story.

Re: Dad Took a Tumble Today

PamfromCT — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 06:27:25 GMT

How fortunate that you reacted the way you did. I give you a lot of credit for your devotion to your father. He is so blessed to have such a loving daughter. This event must have been so scary for you both. Although you are both living in the same building, you may want to consider getting to wear a LifeAlert for his protection when he is alone. I bet it would give you both a good measure of comfort.

Re: Dad Took a Tumble Today

AKgirl2 — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 08:25:53 GMT

@Plaid Pants2 ~ daughter/earth angel 👼 = lucky dad!

Re: Dad Took a Tumble Today

Nataliesgramma — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 09:53:23 GMT

I am so happy to hear that you were able to break your Dad's fall. Maybe he will look into a cane to stabilize himself a little better. I know Senior citizens sometimes fight that suggestion...

Re: Dad Took a Tumble Today

staciesmom — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 09:59:58 GMT

@GCR18 wrote:
Falling is serious business. I get really angry when people laugh at the I've fallen and can't get up commercials. I find nothing funny about them. My maternal grandmother fell twice. She broke her hip and ended up in a nursing home with no will to live. Thankfully your father was okay.

I so agree, my grandmother lived on her own until she fell at 97 years old. Then it was downhill all the way until her death a few months later. My 88 year old mother fell in April, and now she is in assisted living.

Re: Dad Took a Tumble Today

sweetee2 — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 16:22:40 GMT

Sweetee2 I'm so happy you both all right, even more so that he made the decision to use a cane on his own. The elderly can be so stubborn. I guess they just don't want to give up which is a good thing, but Thier comes a time when they need to think about the effect it has on the love one that are trying to help them.

Re: Dad Took a Tumble Today

Gooday — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 16:36:35 GMT

PP ~ Welcome to my world. My dad is 88, sharp as a tack. However, he has significant neuropathy and can hardly feel his feet. Also, he is 6'2" and 215lbs.
He is blind in one eye and he finally gave up driving after he lost his eyesight.
He lives in an independent senior living that has shuttle bus service to stores. He has fallen twice in the front of his building. All residents are required to have a life alert bracelet. Both times he fell he needed stitches above his eye.
We split our time between two states.
Lately, I do his shopping for him. He usually just needs the basics so, I'm happy to do it for him.
He He gets his evening meal in the dining room and sandwiches in the deli.
He has a fancy walker with the seat as well as a cane.
I feel your pain. I am just waiting for that phone call telling me that he broke something. It's a new world with our parents living longer. Heck, I am nearly 63 and retired and my brother is 64 and getting ready to retire.

Re: Dad Took a Tumble Today

Pqfan — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 17:52:03 GMT

@Plaid Pants2 Oh my goodness. I hope you and your dad are okay!