How is the best way to fall over?

Falls in the elderly (sorry! ) are a very serious problem. As with my Dad they can be what is known in the trade as a "terminal event."

I always use my stick out of doors. partly so that I can walk faster on my painful foot, and partly because my balance is so hopeless. I take no risks, because I know that I have risk factors already and do not wish to add to them. I would love to be able to prance about and run (what is that?) after my DGC.

Take care folks - you seem to be as accident-prone as I am!

Hope you're over your fall by now Jings, it's easily done.
I've had two falls in the last 5 years, both due to carelesness, looking at something else except the way I was going.
The first was in town, like Jings, a kind man helped me up, then I went in the Bank and they put a dressing on my knee which was bleeding.
The last one, I fell off a stepladder onto concrete and banged my head on the lawnmower - had slight concussion. Landed on my hip replacement too
It's worrying because bones can so easily be broken when you're older.

Tempting providence I know but I haven't had any serious falls - just twisted my ankle a couple of times stepping out of the back door.

My mother has had a couple of falls, once tripping over nothing and cracking her head on a window cill, fortunately no damage except a very impressive bruise - must have a very thick skull because a care assistant dropped the bed control on her head with again only a bruise to show for it. She did recently fall moving herself from her wheelchair to an armchair and broke her hip. She is recovering well and is back causing chaos and near nervous breakdowns of nursing staff in the nursing home by insisting on doing things for herself!!

to all those who have suffered falls.

Clearly I'm not alone then, that's so good to know! for all wounded and wobbly gransnetters!

My DH is constantly concerned about my ability to fall over nothing. I trip on our back steps on a regular basis and usually have bruises with no idea how I got them.

My last 'productive' fall happened two years ago now (I must be due for another) when I managed to twist my ankle on a tussock of grass walking DD's spaniel down a gentle slope. I sat down with a thump gracefully onto the bank - but there was an ominous crack from my left ankle. I was wondering how to get home and fumbling for my phone to ring DH when a landrover pulled up and out leapt a Mr Darcy in riding breeches. He manfully took charge and immediately phoned for a paramedic. Then my physiotherapist stopped and then two nurses on their way to work. (Did I say it was near the medical centre?). DH eventually arrived after the paramedic (the medical centre and the church are both called St Michaels) and stood by as the two blokes hoisted me into the car. Talk about overkill! I had snapped the tendon in my ankle and I only gave up my stick completely last spring.

Be yew careful - all of you - especially Luckygirl!

absent my heart goes out to you. I've been on serious nan duty a number of times since my son has been ill and it is a real responsibility. Luckily they don't have a dog but my gd1 likes to take her scooter to the school gate to meet her brother. A few months ago she let the scooter go and it ran towards the road and there was a car coming. I moved like lighting not easy in my late 60s and just caught the scooter as a car came to a quick halt.

Years ago I had a boisterous dog and he got into a fight in the park. I ended up on the ground holding tightly to the lead. I was much younger then and bounced back.

I hope you are OK and your grandson too.

Well done absent for hanging onto her lead. Hope you're not too battered and bruised. If the worst had happened and you'd attempted to a) climb an electrified fence then b) tried to round her up I think it would have qualified for a scene in 'Last of the Summer Wine'

How is baby grandson?

Gracefully

Oh absent, that sounds so painful, I hope you're ok? Is DGS better?

It wasn't so much a fall as the result of canine malice of forethought. I was on serious granny duty last week – school holidays and baby grandson admitted to hospital with absentdaughter staying with him. Fool that I am, I thought it would be a good idea to take the family's unruly, boisterous labrador for a walk. She clearly has absolutely no idea about walking properly on a lead and, in case that wasn't bad enough, went completely berserk when she saw a field full of cows. The result was that my already painful and stressed body and arms simply couldn't restrain her and I went flat on my face on the pavement. I still managed to hang on to the lead as the thought of trying to climb over an electrified fence and round her up in a field full of cows was more than I could bear!

But that also was in full public view, on a stupid invisible (no white edges) ramp outside Boot's! A lovely Asian family helped me to the Dr's, while all the Brits politely ignored me.

No, I have fallen every year since and broken two toes, and last year broke the other ankle!

Oh - that's definitely the best one yet janerowena - at least nobody saw me ... well, I don't think they did

I'm with you Luckygirl - I am terrified of falling but, sadly, I seem to do it quite often

I'm actually surprised to read these posts and how many of us fall - there I was thinking I was the only clumsy one

I feel very sympathies Jings.

However - I'm completely with jogginggirl - have your fall in a graveyard.

Nearly four years ago a great-aunt died in Cornwall. If any of you know Feock churchyard, you will know how steep and narrow everything is, and only the hearse was allowed down the hill.

We were all walking back from the grave in its beautiful plot overlooking the sea, when I caught my foot in a rabbit hole hidden by long grass. Down I went, broke my ankle and had to be carried back up the hill to the hearse by the pall bearers, then given a lift back up to the village and all the parked cars in the hearse. I spent the funeral tea smothered in ice from the ice buckets, and the next day in Truro hospital being laughed at.

I can't read this - it fills me with horror! I am terrified of falling again - it changed my life.

So was i

Phew so glad you've clarified that one Falconbird, I was feeling a bit sorry for the cat!
Glad I'm not the only one to have taken a tumble. We all deserve tlc and

Galen I read my post again!!! it was only the bowl.

I was coming downstairs without shoes or slippers when the phone rang and I hurried to answer it. Mistake! Slipped off the bottom step and did something to my foot - think I broke the little toe and the whole foot went black across the base of the toes. I promptly ordered a decent non-slip pair of slippers - why are they called that? I never discovered who was phoning so it can't have been worth breaking a toe for.

I hope you meant the cat's bowl not bowel? The latter would involve the vet

There IS something funny about watching people fall over, and there is also a sort of shocked laugh that escapes without you meaning it.

We were in a cash and carry ages ago, the kind with shelves almost up to a high ceiling. Someone must have up above the ceiling working, because suddenly there was a crash and a pair of legs came through the plasterboard and dangled over the top shelf. No danger because the wide shelf was only a foot or so below the feet.

We burst out laughing, it was such a classic comedy situation, but a pair of nuns near us went into shock at our levity and tutted away at us.

(The legs and their owner were soon rescued and were none the worse)

JINGL - I don't mind if you have a laugh. There is something instrinsically funny about someone falling off a bus - don't know why.

Hope you are OK and hope the traffic island marks heal up quickly.

I do fear falling over especially in an embarassing position. I fell some years ago when I slipped on spilled milk from the cat's bowel. hit my head on the fridge and my glasses fell off. I was only in my 50s but suddenly felt old.

I am careful to be point of obsessive when out and about, but many accidents happen in the home. A friend was standing on a stool to put a picture up, slipped and broke her hip!!! Everyone who knows her never ever stand on anything to reach anything now.

. (Shouldn't laugh)

The other way to do it is to emerge from the passenger seat of car in front of the bank, catch trailing foot in strap of handbag and end up spread eagled on the road directly opposite the bus shelter presenting yourself as a target to all passing vehicles. I still shake rear foot to ensure it's handbag free rather like dog who's just been for a wee.

It's that split second when you just know "this is going to be bad".

You try and stop yourself or carry out a damage limitation exercise usually resulting in even more damage.

Mind you every time I have ever fallen down it has been as a result of bloody high heels or too much wine

Hope you are okay jings