Reflections on an Encounter with a Dying Elderly Woman

1/18/07 | 60Gunner

[60Gunner]

ER Nursing Stories Ping.

[arizonarachel]

Oh what a sad story. This is why I tried so hard to keep in constant contact w/ my elderly (independent) grandmother.

[null and void]

Yeah. I'll keep "Aunt Louise" in my thoughts. Perhaps she will recover?

[Chickensoup]

Great as usual.

Took care of a woman who stroked in her easy chair. She sat a week. Not pretty. But she survived and healed.

[nina0113]

ping

[Congressman Billybob]

You are thoughtful, knowledgeable, and most of all, compassionate. I hope what you posted today may save the lives of more than a few people who who are, for the moment, "living independently." Thank you.

Congressman Billybob

Latest article: "Nancy's Culture of Corruption, Part II"

[Gorzaloon]

It shows we have lost a sense of community as well.

Neighbors do not know each other's names. Decades ago, my father found an elderly neighbor under these circumstances. And that was when there were neighborhoods.

We do not have children* and very likely will die under these circumstances, or whichever one survives the other will.

*If there were a big fat WILL involved, I wonder.....

[Cicero]

A terrible story. Thank you for the advice.

I would also suggest that older people who live along should be given one of those gadgets to wear around their necks that can be used to call for help. It's not foolproof, but if someone falls down and breaks a hip, they may not be able to get to a phone. But they may be able to push the button and call for help.

[Vigilanteman]

America is unique among nations in our treatment of the elderly . . .

Unfortunately, it isn't. Remember the woman in the UK who died because the ambulance crew was on mandatory break? Remember the scores of elderly who died in the Parisian heat wave and August or two ago?

My wifes calls my mother daily as well as a number of elderly live-alone people in our neighborhood.

[RobRoy]

I like the last paragraph.

[MHGinTN]

Allow me to add that we the mobile ought to make the effort to keep in touch because the aging reach a point where they cannot do it as easily as we can. Think about it ... even our business will pale when the elderly loved one is incapacitated unexpectedly. Also, put aside the notion that an aging parent or parents have a right to the trade off between being independent and being safe ... we, their loved ones, MUST make the decision and not leave them to make it because they will wait too long and circumstances will make the choice, usually negatively, very negatively.

[Oorang]

Thank you for taking the time to write and post this. It doesn't take much time out of someone's day to call and/or check in on someone. I know, I do it everyday. Not every other day, or every week, but every day. No biggie, doesn't require that much effort. But it does require that you care about another human being.

Even if the elderly person is fine, day after day, a visit with someone can cheer their soul and perhaps make that day a little brighter. Is that too much to ask? I don't think so.

[sig226]

Are you a physician or a nurse?

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department has a program of civilian volunteers who use a department car and check on people. These people put themselves on a list so that someone comes by every day, knocks on the door, and makes sure the resident is well. Stupid simple program, they need to expand it. Other communities need to adopt it. Churches do it in some areas.

[sig226]

I just read your profile. Never mind the doctor or nurse question. :D

[Lazamataz]

I will make it a point to keep track of one elderly, alone person.

[Fiddlstix]

Bump
To read later

[gotribe]

Better go call my mom.

[Xenalyte]

That is one great tagline.

[tutstar]

bump