Senior citizens should be monitored like children

RedRooster

Diamond Member
Sep 14, 2000
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0
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Apparently, my boss's mother in law fell in her home and went two days without being found. She fell into the tub and laid there until she was found with a broken something.
Obviously I'm not old, but I don't understand how they couldn't just drag themselves along the floor even, in cases where they fall in a hallway or something.
If they're that frail and weak, there's no way they should be living alone. I'll hire a bloody maid or something to take care of mine when they get that old.

I just don't get it. Is it pride or something?
 
L

Lola

there is a thought of not being independent anymore.
I do agree and have a similar issue with a great-aunt of mine. she is in her 80's and can barely walk anymore and she falls asleep at the drop of a hat anytime, but she still is driving. its scary not only for her, but others on the road. However, she is the only one out of herself and two other sisters that drive. If we took that away from them, i think they literally would die. They are independent and have been that way for a long time.

its just sad to think that she could very likely kill someone including herself if she fell asleep while driving.
 

Encryptic

Diamond Member
May 21, 2003
8,885
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She was probably too frail and weak to pull herself out of the tub. A similar situation happened to my mom's mother a few years ago. She slipped on a seed pod that fell from the tree in front of her house and she fell, broke her hip and couldn't get up. She laid there calling out for help for about an hour before someone finally saw her.

She still lives alone, but my mom helps her out on the weekends and a neighbor comes by to check on her during the week. They had discussed moving her into a home, but they concluded that she'd probably be miserable there. She's comfortable at home, she knows where everything is, etc. and she doesn't normally leave the house anyway because her eyesight is going. :(
 

brunswickite

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2002
6,386
1
0
Originally posted by: Lola
there is a thought of not being independent anymore.
I do agree and have a similar issue with a great-aunt of mine. she is in her 80's and can barely walk anymore and she falls asleep at the drop of a hat anytime, but she still is driving. its scary not only for her, but others on the road. However, she is the only one out of herself and two other sisters that drive. If we took that away from them, i think they literally would die. They are independent and have been that way for a long time.

its just sad to think that she could very likely kill someone including herself if she fell asleep while driving.

people over the age of 65 should have to take a road test every 5 years...
 
L

Lola

Originally posted by: brunswickite
Originally posted by: Lola
there is a thought of not being independent anymore.
I do agree and have a similar issue with a great-aunt of mine. she is in her 80's and can barely walk anymore and she falls asleep at the drop of a hat anytime, but she still is driving. its scary not only for her, but others on the road. However, she is the only one out of herself and two other sisters that drive. If we took that away from them, i think they literally would die. They are independent and have been that way for a long time.

its just sad to think that she could very likely kill someone including herself if she fell asleep while driving.

people over the age of 65 should have to take a road test every 5 years...

i agree whole heartedly
 

Chronoshock

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2004
4,860
1
81
Originally posted by: Lola
Originally posted by: brunswickite
Originally posted by: Lola
there is a thought of not being independent anymore.
I do agree and have a similar issue with a great-aunt of mine. she is in her 80's and can barely walk anymore and she falls asleep at the drop of a hat anytime, but she still is driving. its scary not only for her, but others on the road. However, she is the only one out of herself and two other sisters that drive. If we took that away from them, i think they literally would die. They are independent and have been that way for a long time.

its just sad to think that she could very likely kill someone including herself if she fell asleep while driving.

people over the age of 65 should have to take a road test every 5 years...

i agree whole heartedly

Definetly, elderly drivers are scary/annoying/mind numblingly slow
 

gistech1978

Diamond Member
Aug 30, 2002
5,047
0
0
Originally posted by: RedRooster
Apparently, my boss's mother in law fell in her home and went two days without being found. She fell into the tub and laid there until she was found with a broken something.
Obviously I'm not old, but I don't understand how they couldn't just drag themselves along the floor even, in cases where they fall in a hallway or something.
If they're that frail and weak, there's no way they should be living alone. I'll hire a bloody maid or something to take care of mine when they get that old.

I just don't get it. Is it pride or something?

well.
i would imagine having a broken hip (im assuming thats what she broke, seems to happen most of the time in elderly falls) might make it a bit harder to drag yourself along.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,598
997
126
Originally posted by: brunswickite
Originally posted by: Lola
there is a thought of not being independent anymore.
I do agree and have a similar issue with a great-aunt of mine. she is in her 80's and can barely walk anymore and she falls asleep at the drop of a hat anytime, but she still is driving. its scary not only for her, but others on the road. However, she is the only one out of herself and two other sisters that drive. If we took that away from them, i think they literally would die. They are independent and have been that way for a long time.

its just sad to think that she could very likely kill someone including herself if she fell asleep while driving.

people over the age of 65 should have to take a road test every 5 years...

More like every 5 days!!!
 

RedRooster

Diamond Member
Sep 14, 2000
6,596
0
76
Originally posted by: gistech1978
Originally posted by: RedRooster
Apparently, my boss's mother in law fell in her home and went two days without being found. She fell into the tub and laid there until she was found with a broken something.
Obviously I'm not old, but I don't understand how they couldn't just drag themselves along the floor even, in cases where they fall in a hallway or something.
If they're that frail and weak, there's no way they should be living alone. I'll hire a bloody maid or something to take care of mine when they get that old.

I just don't get it. Is it pride or something?

well.
i would imagine having a broken hip (im assuming thats what she broke, seems to happen most of the time in elderly falls) might make it a bit harder to drag yourself along.

Sometimes those accidents end up turning into life or death situations though, where they're not found for a week or more. Are they that prepared for death that they can just lie there, or do they honestly not have the strength to struggle to a phone?
I guess my question has been answered though, it's all about independance and freedom and not wanting to give that up. Hopefully our generation will be a little more sensible.