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}}}}}