We recently became friends with a 90+ year old couple from our bonsai club. Like us, their two children live on the mainland. Like me, she's not able to drive. Well... I can drive, but only if there are no left turns and within a 1 mile radius.
We got a call from Mrs. K a few days ago asking if we could take them to the doctor in Honolulu. Mr. K had taken a nasty fall and ended up in the emergency room. This was a follow-up visit.
At the last minute, I told Art we should bring mom's travel wheelchair just in case. He stuck it in the trunk of the car.
It was a good thing because Mr. K had a spinal compression fraction and was in quite a bit of pain.
Art dropped us off and went to park the car. I took Mr. and Mrs. K into the Medical Arts building.
Since I was pushing the wheelchair into the room to have his vitals taken, I somehow became the caretaker. The doctor came in right away and I asked if I could call his wife. The doctor said, "No, she can't help."
I was irritated by this and didn't much care for his attitude. Mrs. K is very capable and has a better sense of direction than I do. Her memory is probably better too.
The doctor admonished that the best thing to do for older people in the first place is to modify the home for fall protection. I was slow in realizing that he must have thought I was his daughter.
After picking up their medication we dropped them off at their house and checked out his bed which was a new one and very high off the ground. He's much shorter than I am so I could see how a fall would injure him. We took the bed frame off which dropped the bed by 8 inches or so. I imagine keeping the bed frame and replacing the box spring with a bunkie board would have been even better, but an added cost.
My own mom is in wonderful shape right now and we're very thankful for that. She was glad that we could help our new friends and said she was grateful that my brother, Dennis and we are here with her.
I wondered to myself what our lives will be like in another 20+ years. It left me worrying.
We got a call from Mrs. K a few days ago asking if we could take them to the doctor in Honolulu. Mr. K had taken a nasty fall and ended up in the emergency room. This was a follow-up visit.
At the last minute, I told Art we should bring mom's travel wheelchair just in case. He stuck it in the trunk of the car.
It was a good thing because Mr. K had a spinal compression fraction and was in quite a bit of pain.
Art dropped us off and went to park the car. I took Mr. and Mrs. K into the Medical Arts building.
Since I was pushing the wheelchair into the room to have his vitals taken, I somehow became the caretaker. The doctor came in right away and I asked if I could call his wife. The doctor said, "No, she can't help."
I was irritated by this and didn't much care for his attitude. Mrs. K is very capable and has a better sense of direction than I do. Her memory is probably better too.
The doctor admonished that the best thing to do for older people in the first place is to modify the home for fall protection. I was slow in realizing that he must have thought I was his daughter.
After picking up their medication we dropped them off at their house and checked out his bed which was a new one and very high off the ground. He's much shorter than I am so I could see how a fall would injure him. We took the bed frame off which dropped the bed by 8 inches or so. I imagine keeping the bed frame and replacing the box spring with a bunkie board would have been even better, but an added cost.
My own mom is in wonderful shape right now and we're very thankful for that. She was glad that we could help our new friends and said she was grateful that my brother, Dennis and we are here with her.
I wondered to myself what our lives will be like in another 20+ years. It left me worrying.