DebbieJJ

You are right Stitchnripper, we all need to know how to get up without using our arms in case we have to, but some of us (ME especially) just can't do it. I need to do more practising, more exercising, etc., but with the health problems I have, I just can't seem to get ahead.....At least I've been blessed enough to be able to get up with the help of a chair when I've fallen in the past.

QuiltingNinaSue, goodness girl, you be careful, we don't want you getting hurt! But if my DH knew what your DH does for you, he'd run out and bring in our cart to help me up!

Anyway, I just thought some of the suggestions in the video might get some of us to thinking about what to do before we fall, like Stitchnripper has. You had a great suggestion about practicing. Thanks!

Murphy224

This is a subject near and dear to my heart. Her techniques work well IF you have the core body and arm leg strength and general good health to manuaver yourself around. My younger brother was 6' 5" tall, overweight and in poor health.

Tragically, one day he fell in his kitchen (nothing to grab hold of, nothing to pull up with), unable to scoot himself or move. We found him 3 days later. Deceased. Coroner determined that in his struggles to get up, he had a heart attack but evidence showed he struggled for at least two full days really couldn't determine exact time and day of death.
Moral of story.....if you live alone or are unable to get yourself up without holding on to anything, ALWAYS ALWAYS have your cell phone in your pocket, on a chain around your neck, taped to your arm, something, but within reach at all times. My "non cell phone" 87 year old mother who lives by herself wears a medical alert type button that monitors her for falls or non-movement.
I work very hard at being able to get up without any assistance. It ain't pretty, but I can do it.

bearisgray

I also noticed that the young woman demonstrating the techniques appeared to be in very good physical condition.

Some of us just don't have that kind of strength in our arms, legs, and/or torso/core.

Maybe a new exercise "routine" would be to get down (intentionally) on the floor any way we can and get back up on our feet any way we can twice a day.

DebbieJJ

Murphy224, I'm so sorry about your brother....There are no word to describe what pain we feel when we lose someone.

My dear 80-something grandmother slipped and fell on a loose throw rug in a hallway back in the mid 90's, and she broke her hip and dislocated one of her shoulders. The drs repaired the hip, but failed to realize her shoulder problem! She kept complaining about her shoulder, and one of my aunts almost had to force the dr to do some tests to find the problem. Anyway, there wasn't any furniture of any kind around for her to even try to help herself up with (if she even could have!).

This was before cell phones and medical alert systems (that I know of), and she layed on the floor all day until one of my aunts came by her house after work. She wasn't ever the same after that, and she lived to the ripe old age of 98. By the way, my dear granddaddy had passed away in 1985, and my grandmother now lived alone, thru her choice.

So yes, there are times when we just can't or don't have that kind of strength to get up. That's why it's important to practice, and like Murphy224 said, keep a cell phone or medical alert system on us at all times.

DebbieJJ

Murphy224, I'm so sorry about your brother....There are no word to describe what pain we feel when we lose someone.

My dear 80-something grandmother slipped and fell on a loose throw rug in a hallway back in the mid 90's, and she broke her hip and dislocated one of her shoulders. The drs repaired the hip, but failed to realize her shoulder problem! She kept complaining about her shoulder, and one of my aunts almost had to force the dr to do some tests to find the problem. Anyway, there wasn't any furniture of any kind around for her to even try to help herself up with (if she even could have!) and no phone in the hallway.

This was before cell phones and medical alert systems (that I know of), and she layed on the floor all day until one of my aunts came by her house after work. She wasn't ever the same after that, and she lived to the ripe old age of 98. By the way, my dear granddaddy had passed away in 1985, and my grandmother now lived alone, thru her choice.

So yes, there are times when we just can't or don't have that kind of strength to get up. That's why it's important to practice, and like Murphy224 said, keep a cell phone or medical alert system on us at all times.

MamaLinda

Wonderful. My hubby has had several falls the last 3 years and twice I had to get neighbors help to get him off the floor. Hope we don't need it but thank you!

illinois

Thankfully, I have not had to try this but I'm told that even a cell phone that is fully charged but not connected to a service can be used to summon help. I find my current phone too "clunky" to keep with me at all times but my old flip phone is small enough to be acceptable in a pocket. I'm told that I'd have to be able to tell 911 my name and location. I think this was the way those mistreated children were finally able to get attention not long ago. Donated phones are sometimes passed along to women in potentially abusive situations so they have a way to get help. They don't have to have cell service but can still get help.

JanieH

Great video! No, it doesn't fit all of us in every situation and I have poor core strength but it gave me some ideas to try if I fall. I did fall Halloween morning 2014 and badly broke my upper arm and top of the humerus. Fortunately I had a friend staying with me at the time and she called for help.

But this video is something we can all build on to help us if we fall.

Pete

How can I thank you? I fell in a parking lot last week and if a young man didn’t stop his car and help i would still be there.

greaterexp

Thanks for the great video. I shared it with my MS-affected friends. It could be a wonderful help!