I am caregiving for myself. I need some kind of device for getting up from the ground outside. I fell one time outside on my pathway and my neighbor's were home to help me. Last night I was trying to hook up my hose to the faucet outside on my patio. To get at a good angle, I sat down on the step outside my patio door. Getting up was a little difficult but I finally figured it out. I've looked at all kinds of devices and they aren't quite right. A cane is too tall, even the ones that are in several parts and then connect to make the cane. The step devices aren't going to help either, as I don't have a whole lot of arm strength. I have not come to a place in my life where I need an alarm yet. Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks.
You say you aren't at the point of needing an alarm "yet." Can I just say, if you wait until you *are* at that point, it's going to be too late, isn't it? Much better to have an alarm set up and not use it, than to need one and still be thinking "oh I'll get one later."
I explained to him that all the furniture in the house could be looked as potential things for him to hit his head on one the way down. If the neighbour who works full time is not home, the car alarm is not going to help. (his home is in a rural area)
We are looking into a personal alarm that can work in multiple locations for him. If we wait for the fall that he cannot get up from, it will be too late. Dad has had one stroke already.
We had a family member who had an alarm, but did not wear it when she got up during the night. She fell and it was 3 days before she was found. By then she was in organ failure and it was too late, she died in hospital.
I strongly encourage SoCalGal to look into a personal alarm sooner than later.
In the mean time, call a plumber and have them put an extension on faucet so you can attach the hose while standing and do not need to bend down to do it. Be mindful of not tripping on the hose as it snakes across the deck.
I have one of those orange buckets that are sold at Home Depot that I toss weeds into... it stands a decent size up and I have found that will give me leverage for standing up. I drag that all over the yard with me. Has also helped when I find myself sitting on the ground not by choice :(
It's like what in the world happened. I remember about 10 years ago I use to be able to work my yard for 8 hours in a day, hauling large bags of mulch, picking up small limbs and pulling weeds. Boy, that ship passed pretty quickly !!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E8iCYG16ho
Near the end of the workout it gives careful, detailed instructions to use a simple chair to get down on the floor and to get up again.
I agree with those who have suggested strength training.
My great uncle is 96 and works out at a gym daily and he is still mentally and physically fit.
He also lives alone.
It has long been a myth that older people can not gain muscle or muscle strength.
This has been proven time and again to be extremely false and harmful to the elderly who hear these myths because it prevents them from working out.
My great Uncle's gym membership is FREE paid for by his supplemental health insurance.
Working out can stave or even prevent dementia and can definitely help you get up more easily and will also improve your balance.
Otherwise if that is a place that may continually cause an issue - place a stool at the tap area so you can sit to work on the taps
FYI ... when you go out take your keys & hit the alarm button which will set off your car alarm - tell you nieghbours that you are doing so & if they hear the alarm go off then to check your back yard
My massage therapist works from her home & she has a grab bar outside at her front door so maybe buy a few for places that you feel could be a problem - this will be less expensive than a fall!
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