Falling

It is time to put falling into perspective. When Margaret fell backwards the other day that scared me. I could see the couple we ate with in the dining hall almost two years age. One fell backwards in their apartment; too far for the spouse to make a catch. Then hospital, then passing; then the spouse, who was very active in the fitness classes, passing.

Margaret’s falls at Provision Living are very different from the falls when we were refugees from the flood, and staying in skilled nursing in South Hampton Place. There she went down in a spiral. Her feet remained in place until her right hip hit the floor and she rolled out onto the tile floor; six times before the overdosing with Xanax was finally discontinued by the house doctor.

Found Under a Heavy Sleave

Three Weeks Later

Here, she has had a series of bruises from unknown causes. They tended to get worse as time passed. They healed well. There have been none over the past two weeks.

The rolling office chairs we have instead of a stuffed couch were suspected when I made the last trip to San Antonio. Then a series of events said something else; weight, her fit into the chair, and getup time. She is sliding, not falling out of the chair?

For two weeks she was up at 8:00 and out of the apartment. Safe and a bit sleepy. She napped. She took little part in exercise activities.

The last two days, she has refused to get up at 8:00. She is up before 10:00 when I go to a fitness class. Yesterday she came to the class with a group from memory care one. I was surprised to see her come in. She sat beside me, holding a two-pound weight the entire class.

I returned to memory care with the group. They wanted to do the ball bounce across the center of a circle of chairs. I immediately set Margaret in the circle as it was forming. She refuses to go to a chair in a completed circle.

We ended up with another person between us. I could now watch her facial expressions. What happened next was totally unexpected.

"Richard!"

After the ball was bounced to her a couple of times, she became Maggie of two years ago, at a slower pace. By the time the session ended all of the residents were again taking part; even two, out of memory care, staff joined in; who wandered in checking on things.

Was a fully rested Maggie showing different behavior from a drowsy Margaret?

We know that Margaret is sliding out of the office chair. I happened to have my i-phone near this computer when I heard a weak call, “Richard!” The chair does not move as she twists about

We also know that sliding out of the chair no longer bothers her. This is not a good habit. 

What is in This Box?

Waiting for Rescue

Getting down on the floor to play with her keepsakes is OK, but it takes two caregivers to return her to a chair once or twice a day. OR is the chair sliding out behind her?

So, the rolling chair is locked in an empty apartment. A fairly heavy straight chair, found by a caregiver, is now in place. My concern is that she may push the straight chair back and tip over backwards.

It is 7:06 on Wednesday morning with more things to do than I can take part in: 8:30, stretching; 9:15, swimming that overlaps; 10:00, Morning Movers, 10:30, In The Dust of Rabbi, a CD travel log of the how and where of the disciples of Christ; 3:00, Building Better Balance; 4:00, meditation; and three meals.

I need to be back here by 8:00 and observe what happens next.

8:55 one eye open and then back to sleep.

9:00 the third caregiver check on getting up.

9:43 the fifth caregiver check, morning pills, and easily up to the bathroom.

9:50 time for me to go to fitness class and to get the newspapers.

Up for the Day

9:55 out of the apartment and up for the day with our little memory car dog in escort. He seems to sense when people need help.

11:20 and back from Bible Study. Margaret did not get into the circle of chairs. Today she was already seated in the activity area when the circle was formed.

12:00 the frown is showing. Everyone needs to be on their watch.

6:50 am Thursday Fire drill!!! What a relief!! The alarm was turned off as soon as everyone was out of their apartments, while roll call was taken.

7:00 Margaret is sound asleep again.

Now it is 1:38 after a struggle to get the Mail message list to use a larger font on this MacBook Pro computer (failed). By Jove!!! The Blogger screen is larger now. So, need to look at Mail again.

I ate lunch (noon meal) with Margaret seated in the activity area watching U Tube trivia channel. Margaret was tapping her foot and nodding to Tennesse Ernie Ford.

She has yet to sit in the new straight chair (see previous post).