What a great Spark! Im a nurse who lives in the frigid upper Midwest, where we have been slammed with snow and cold this winter. As I was getting out of my car at the grocery store just now, I noticed an elderly woman struggling to get out of her car next to me. She was really being cautious, so I waited to observe her for a moment. .I approached her and commented about how slippery the parking lot was, and asked if she would like to take my arm as we walked into the store. She was immensely relieved and grateful for the assist. As I was leaving the store, another woman who had walked in the same time that we had, approached one of the cashiers and asked if they would be on the lookout for this elderly lady and have someone walk her back out. They were happy to help. Hip fractures from falls on the ice are VERY common among the elderly, leading to surgery, rehab in a nursing home, and for some - never leaving a wheelchair again. The death rate from complications following a hip fracture is very high as well. Just a reminder - if you see someone who is elderly struggling to walk across a treacherous spot - do not hesitate to offer your arm to them. You may be saving their life! Or, if you have an elderly neighbor, and are dealing with snow and ice - offer to get their mail for them, or when you are going to the store - call and ask if you can pick up anything for them. I fear some of our elderly may be malnourished simply due to the fact they are afraid of leaving their homes right now.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Feb 2014 03:00:01 +0000
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