I Became “The Fall Guy” The Gift-Card Grift

My Side Of Things

by LARRY GRIMALDI

We’ve all heard the wistful observation, “No good deed goes unpunished.” I can attest to the kernel of truth in that old saw.

Recently, I was washing the kitchen floor in our Fort Lauderdale winter refuge condo when my foot got caught in the leg of the table. I lurched forward to the floor and fell on my hip. A that moment, I became “The Fall Guy” and joined the legion of seniors with serious hip injuries. I sustained a small fracture in my right hip that required surgery to place stabilizing rod and had to endure a 12-day hospitalization. A physical and occupational therapy rehabilitation program was prescribed so that I can resume my activities as before the accident. I had therapy three times a day for a period of 10 days. I found myself relearning to perform routine tasks such as walking, bathing, or going to the bathroom. I was discharged using a walker. My goal is to graduate to a cane and eventually regain a normal walking gait.

The statistics on falls and seniors are frightening. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Council on Aging, 28 percent, or three million people, over the age of 65 fall each year. A staggering 800,000 hospital visits are the result of these accidents; and, unfortunately, 32,000 seniors each year die from falls. Physical injury may not be the only repercussion of such an accident. In addition to temporary disability, the fall victim risks permanent disability, long-term loss of mobility, difficulty with tasks of daily living, loss or diminished independence, or social isolation. Any one or combination of these risks can affect a senior’s lifestyle.

Most falls occur in the home. There are some prevention actions you can take to “fall proof” your home. Remove throw rugs. Wear non-skid shoes or slippers. Clear walking paths of obstacles. In your bedroom, make sure that your light switches are within reach of your bed. Make sure that your bedspreads do not touch the floor. Hip patients, such as myself, should beware if the edge of the bed is lower than the kneecap. Install