Fractured Rib, Walker and other stuff

[Freedom]

My Dad fell in his bathroom about 4 AM on Wednesday morning. He is in hospital with a fractured rib. Just now he is scheduled to come home tomorrow / Friday, with a walker, and maybe a little physical therapy. A visiting nurse is coming to make a "safe home" inspection, probably on Saturday.

Dad will be house bound for 6 to 8 weeks, and maybe a bit longer (elderly take longer to heal).

Last evening, I took Lacey in to visit. This morning I took Marlin.

Marlin normally sleeps on Dad's bed at night. But last night Marlin could not settle. On Dad's bed, he would whine, cry and end up howling. Then he'd come to my bedroom and lie on a pet bed on the floor. That wouldn't last long, and he was back off to Dad's room. Which meant getting me up, as he refuses to go up the stairs to Dad's bed without a light at night. So I have to walk through the house with him, turning lights on, he goes up the stairs, and I return to my room closing lights as I go. (That is routine even when Dad is here.) Neither of us slept much last night. So I am hoping he will calm down a bit now that he has seen Dad.

I'm not sure how this is going to work with Dad home with a walker and house bound. Can I leave him to go shopping? To go have dinner with friends? To walk the dogs? So far the information is that I will have to wait and see how he does at home.

[Karen]

Yes, once he gets used to it, you will be able to leave the house to walk dogs, etc. A walker means he will be able to move around, not painlessly with a busted rib, but more securely than he likely has been. A walker is extra strength and stability and balance - those are all good things.

Tennis balls for the front "feet" so it doesn't squeak on the floors, and drive everyone crazy, but it will be a GOOD thing.

After I had brain surgery many years ago, they gave me a walker to relearn walking and balance. The physical therapist was astounded at my skill with it. "You use that really well for a person your age!" she said, surprised.

"I have a LOT of elderly friends and relatives, I've been watching the pro walker users for a long time," I replied!

[MoonandBean]

So sorry to hear about your dad! Karen's response was great and I'll just add one thing: I'm sure they will tell him this but fractured ribs can easily lead to pneumonia as people tend to breathe shallow due to the pain. He should do "incentive spirometry" every hour or so. They will probably give him a chamber and ball that he has to blow into. If they don't; ask for one. If all else fails, he'll need to hug a pillow and make himself cough a couple of times every few hours. This is all to prevent pneumonia...which is very important (can you imagine pneumonia on top of a fractured rib? Ouch!)

Tell him I wish him a speedy recovery!

[Freedom]

Wow, thanks!! Both of you had lots of good info.

[Medusa]

No info from me, only encouragement and to let you know that I'm still praying for you and Dad.

[Daisy and Delilah]

Oh No Sandie!!!! I'm so sorry. My thoughts and prayers are going out to your Dad and you. {{{{{HUGS}}}}}

[cassiesmom]

Oh No Sandie!!!! I'm so sorry. My thoughts and prayers are going out to your Dad and you. {{{{{HUGS}}}}}

No info from me, only encouragement and to let you know that I'm still praying for you and Dad.

What D&D said! What Medusa said!

[K9karen]

*Sigh* Been in that situation 2x. Anyhoo..why don't you call Eldercare (should be in the phonebook) or your local county Department of Aging? I'll be you can get arrangements for an aide a few hours a day to stay with your dad while you shop etc. *Another Sigh*. If your dad is anything like my parents, they hated having a stranger in their midst, but I learned too late that I needed my own life. Good luck and lots of prayers for your dad's fast recovery.

Your Marlin and Dad's bed story is amazing. So habitual are our dear little buddies. I know Mz Logan won't even go into the bedroom on her bed at night unless I go in with her and stay there! Many late nights on PT resulted on my elbows being nosed in the air! And a firm demanding bark! Never a dull moment, and I only have one! Sending you lots of hugs!

[Freedom]

I really appreciate all the posts, thank you.

Tonight I asked the nurse about the chamber and ball, and she said yes, he probably should have one, she will make a note for the doctor to order one. And if I hadn't posted on here, learned about it and asked? What then???

Dad has a case manager, we met once today, have another meeting tomorrow. I now have lots of questions, after a lengthy discussion with the nurse this evening. I know 12 hour shifts are hard, but boy did that work well for us today!

This morning Dad seemed fine, we had a nice chat. Tonight he was quite out of it, and very sarcastic, so I went to ask her about it. She said he is "sundowning," a stage in the dementia. He has been doing this about 2 weeks. So she is going to document it more than she may have, as I haven't told any of Dad's doctors about it yet. She had several arguments with him this evening, and had to alarm his bed. For a few hours she had to alarm HIM, as he won't cooperate and call her, he just gets up and walks, without his walker.

She asked if I have his bed alarmed at home and I said no. She thinks maybe this will come up in the home inspection, and she made another note in Dad's file.

So we are making progress.

Thanks again for all your ideas, thoughts and good wishes!

[phesina]

Dear Sandie, I don't have any helpful suggestions, just lots of good wishes and prayers to add to those already coming for you and your Dad. Don't forget to take care of yourself, too, while you work so hard taking care of him.

{{{{{HUGS}}}}} and ~~~~~PURRS~~~~~,
Pat and cats

[Alysser]

I'm so sorry to hear this happened to your poor Dad. I hope he feels better soon! That sounds painful.

[Taz_Zoee]

No advice here either. Only thoughts for you and your Dad.

[Cinder & Smoke]

She had several arguments with him this evening, and had to alarm his bed.
For a few hours she had to alarm HIM, as he won't cooperate and call her,
he just gets up and walks, without his walker.

She asked if I have his bed alarmed at home and I said no.
She thinks maybe this will come up in the home inspection ...

You'll probably need a reliable "bed alarm", but also a Dad-proof door or gate
to guard the "steps" that Dad might encounter while taking a 'hike' around the house!

Another good activity for Dad would be to enroll him in a local Senior Day Care -
often provided by a county agency or a local church. There's one near me that provides
door-to-door handicap bus service to pick up and return the Folks;
and offers all-day care and activities for the Seniors.

[MoonandBean]

Tonight I asked the nurse about the chamber and ball, and she said yes, he probably should have one, she will make a note for the doctor to order one. And if I hadn't posted on here, learned about it and asked? What then???

Unfortunately, it often takes a family member to advocate for the patient to get the best care. I wish everything that should be done was always done but that's just not the case in today's medical world. Thank God he has you there to watch out for him

[lvpets2002]

Oh Dear Sandie I am sad to read this.. Hope your Dad is doing better today.. Oh that fractured rib can be painfull.. Now how young is your dad?? Sending lots of Prayers & Huggss..