The Kid was afraid to jump off a cliff because he couldn't swim. But, even though he jumped and the fall didn't kill him, statistically, Butch was correct.
According to the CDC:
Falls are the leading cause of fatal injuries among older adults.
About twelve years ago, I was diagnosed with Meniere's Disease. It's a miserable illness and all I wanted to do was lie on the couch. But, I knew that wasn't the answer. I tried several balancing classes recommended by my medical team, but they didn't work for me.
Then Betsy, the parish nurse at my church, recommended a class led by a woman named Claudia. It was different. She had the same philosophy I did. It sounds counterintuitive but, for most of us oldies, it's truly a "use it or lose it" situation.
Falls are the leading cause of fatal injuries among older adults.
For most of us, sitting on the couch is not the answer. Claudia was all about staying strong and exercising, no matter how bad we felt. She had great tips, like reminding us that it's more dangerous to walk downstairs than upstairs because we tend to fall forward.
There was an old lady in a wheelchair the class. Her daughter would wheel her in and return later to pick her up. After a couple of sessions, Claudia had this woman standing for most of our activities.
On the third day she was sitting in a regular folding chair when her daughter arrived. The daughter was obviously upset to see her mom not in her wheelchair and was trying to pick her up.
From across the room, Claudia called to the daughter, "Leave her alone. She can transfer to the wheelchair by herself."
And she did.
Falls are the leading cause of fatal injuries among older adults.
Falls happen everywhere, including hospitals. Especially hospitals!
The best remedy is not to stay in bed. It's to, as best we can, move! Of course we need to be careful, but we need to move. Every day. If you're afraid and don't feel well and your loved ones want you to sit or lie down 24-7, just remember this:
The Barcalounger will probably kill ya!
***
