June 23, 2013
-
Sleep is Futile
It’s almost 4AM and I’m wide awake. My sister phoned me at 2 AM. Dad fell down and wasn’t able to get up. She wasn’t strong enough to lift him up and she called me. I was out the door within 10 minutes. I got him off the floor and into the bed. He kept apologizing for getting me out. I smiled and said it was fine. He wasn’t in any pain. But I told my sister to call me in the morning to see if he could get out of the bed. I will have to check to see if there’s any techniques he can use to get himself off the floor.
I probably won’t be able to get back to sleep so I’ll just have to do with a couple of hours of sleep today. So much for getting to bed early to catch up on my sleep.
This probably the only time the streets outside my condo is quiet. The traffic has quieted down. The people have gone home. It’s just me and my noisy thoughts.Maybe I’ll read a bit.
Comments (17)
The same thing happened with my paternal grandmother. I was a wreck until I got her up and into bed. Fortunately she was not hurt. Slow down Matt. Breathe and try to relax a little during the day.
I know what you are going through, Matt. I wish there was something I could do to help. You do need to take better care of yourself. Running yourself into the ground will not help anything.
I hope your dad will be ok. This happens with old people – unfortunately.
Take care of yourself, Matt —
Most hospitals use a bed hoist to transfer a patient from the bed into a wheelchair. Hoisting a patient from the floor is not easy with one person. With two people you can use the flat carrier with two poles that you roll the patient into and you pick the person up like they do in mountain rescues. With one person you can pick up one end and drag the other end, prop the end you are carrying onto a bed and then leverage up the bottom edge.
Whew easier to use an illustration than to say in words.
Images:https://www.google.com/search?q=two+pole+stretcher&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=KWbHUe7UE4agiQL0pYDoCQ&ved=0CDcQsAQ&biw=1740&bih=839
matt, did your dad go to a hospital and have himself checked out?
@Fatcat723 - I found some literature on how to get a patient up from the floor. I’m not sure if my dad has the strength though. He just sits, reads and eat.
@Toro69 - we’ll probably have to get someone in to check the house and provide some recommendations.
@beowulf222 - he seems fine right now except for a bruise in his wrist.
@slmret - I will, thank you.
@PPhilip - he isn’t that heavy but it wasn’t easy hoisting him up. Thanks for the tips, I’ll look around a home care store to see what they have.
@l0311879l - no but I might ask my sister to take him down during the week just in case.
Scary.
Yeah, what PPhilip said.
He should be told to not get out of bed and take off to the bathroom. if he can just sit on the side of the bed for a few seconds and then stand for a few seconds and then start walking, it might help. Older people have problem with equilibrium and need to be taught like little children in the way of walking and getting out of bed.
I hope today was a better day and that you could get a couple or three hours of sleep. lots of hugs, love.
Thank goodness you were there and your phone was on. Is it possible one of you moves in or your dad moves in?
That’s insane. Overall, even though you miss out on some sleep, at least your dad is safe and in his own bed.
Between your dad and your auntie, it must be very stressful. Hug! Hope you can sleep better tonight! You need to take good care of yourself also so you can take care of others. Sleep tight, Matt. They need you healthy.
i can only imagine what’s troubling your mind at nights. i probably won’t be able to go to sleep myself if i were in your shoes. many hugs to you, matt. hang in there. hope your dad is feeling better now and with strength to get up and walk around.
@KevEats - it is. I’ve been watching the side effects of the new meds on my dad. He is considerably weaker. It scares me that he is exhausted walking from the car to the front door.
@ZSA_MD - we’ve told him to do that. He doesn’t listen. Today when I went over, I held him for awhile as he stood up. I told him again to just steady himself first before he takes his first step with the walker. He just hates having people wait for him so he wants to move.
@stepaside_loser - my sister lives with him. She couldn’t pull him up so she called me. It’s one of the reasons why I don’t drink a lot when I’m at home. Years ago, I was about to have a glass of wine when my sister told me my mom’s blood sugar had plummeted and they called the ambulance. I quickly drove back home. So since then I don’t really drink a lot.
@Devilzgaysianboi - sleeping in one’s own bed and one’s own home is something he doesn’t take for granted. He is scared of moving to an assisted living place.
@stevew918 - thanks Steve, I try to watch my own health but I’m not doing a great job of it.
@rudyhou - he was feeling a bit better today. We think his balance issue is caused by the new meds (one of the nasty side effects). If we can’t figure a way to control these side effects, he may have to stop taking these meds.
@ElusiveWords - let’s hope it doesn’t get to that point. he does need his meds, no?
I hope your Dad is okay.
And I hope you got some sleep.
I cared for my Mom in the last years of her life. Being a caregiver to a parent is a difficult, but rewarding “job”.
HUGS to you!!!