Austin and Pearl have lived directly across the street from me for 40 to 50 years. They have aged as we have except they are older if you can be older than us. Pearl worked in a stationary store and Austin was a railway engineer. They were energetic.
Austin is 93. He fell on some ice a few years ago and has had problems with low blood pressure. He has been hospitalized several times. A few days ago he shovelled his driveway. I thought , "Watch it Austin. Don't over do it."
Well about 6 PM I sensed some different light. Yes, the ambulance was at Austin's and took him away. Pearl hopped in the ambulance and went to the hospital with him.
About 8 PM I noticed a car parked on the street. Pearl came home in a taxi. I watched to see that she got to the house safely. On the first step she fell backward. It was sickening to watch. I thought she'd never get up. About 30 seconds later she rolled over and got up and climbed up the steps. She rolled up a bit and didn't straighten out like a senior falls.
So Austin and Pearl had a rotten day
They are like us. They know that they should move out of the house but don't.
fortunately they have family nearby to help them.
I hope they do not have another downer day.
I pray such lovely neighbors recover and get better. Oh dear, I hope Pearl didn't have any injuries that need to be seen by a doctor. Can they hire out or find a volunteer to clear their paths? Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteWe phoned right away and she claimed no injury.
DeleteI hope both Pearl and Austin will be okay. It's hard to move from a place where one has lived for so long; not to mention all the work to move the contents of a big house.
ReplyDeleteYou hit the nail on the head about seniors moving. The micro manager will never leave this house.
DeleteIt's so awful to watch someone fall or have a similar accident and know you can't stop it. I hope your neighbours get some help so they can stay in their home a bit longer.
ReplyDeleteThey have a daughter and son in law minutes away.
Delete93 is very old and they are doing well to be still living independently but we know the scales can tip at any moment, especially now it's winter.
ReplyDeleteI grew up knowing a couple who were pretty much adoptive grandparents, he got up to go to the bathroom one night and she found him in the morning. He was about 94. Her kidneys failed at 97 so she spent a week in hospital before she passed. I am only now starting realise how unusual they were, neither of them spent a single day in aged care.
They were fortunate to have good health.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteOh my, I hope Pearl and Austin will be ok. I think seniors need help when it comes to shoveling and clearing the icy path and steps.
Take care, have a great day!
There are some things seniors shouldn't do but they do. Don't climb ladders.
DeleteYou've got to be tough to be old. I hope they both recover well.
ReplyDeleteThey ae both on the mend. You get old because you are tough.
DeleteOh my gosh. I hope they're OK!
ReplyDeleteShe's fine. He will be home in a couple of days.
DeleteThey are lucky to have neighbors like you to keep watch over them.
ReplyDeleteWhat they really have is a daughter and son in law minutes away.
DeleteThe inexorable march of time, but both you and they have done rather well in this life of chance.
ReplyDeleteWe are very fortunate.
DeleteThat does sound like a really downer day, in many ways. I hope to hear better news about them, Red. You are a good friend.
ReplyDeleteThey have a daughter and son in law nearby.
DeleteWe are all one drastic event away from assisted care. I hope they will recover from this event and get the help they need.
ReplyDeleteYou are right but we don't like to think about it.
DeleteThat is so sad. What a tough thing to witness, as well. I hope you are OK.
ReplyDeleteEverybody is OK . I went for my walk tonight.
DeleteIt's horrible watching someone's body and mind age. I remember watching the same sort of thing happen to my mother and it broke my heart.
ReplyDeleteSo you are saying that they have both survived to manage another day? I guess that's a good thing.
ReplyDeleteAww so very hard:(
ReplyDeletePearl was down for thirty seconds? I don't get it Red. You are a naturally kind, helpful human so why weren't you over there checking her out and helping her to get up?
ReplyDeleteOh my. I feel for them.
ReplyDeleteOh no!
ReplyDeleteOh I found it terrible dear Red!
ReplyDeleteNo doubt it was dark day for the couple, positive thing to have family close by though 🥹🙏
What a frightening day for Pearl and Austin!
ReplyDeleteRed, When reading through the comments, I stopped at Mr. Pudding's. He said almost exactly what I was wondering while reading the post. When you saw Pearl go down I would think you would be on the way over to see if you could help. I trust if she had been down for another minute or two, you would have been on the way.
ReplyDeleteGlad they have family nearby!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! That is darn scary. I already feel like I wish we lived in a smaller 1 story house. We had to build on top of my mom's house when we moved back to Hawaii which is why it's two stories. I already feel like I'd love one of those chair lifts that some people here have installed on their stairs.
ReplyDeletePearl and Austin are lucky they have family close by to help as well as the both of you.