I fell over - I didn’t ’have a fall’!

Grans FGs stay upright!

The latter I believe is classed as a "mechanical" fall, because there is a mechanism that leads to it.

If you're really dizzy to the point of falling, that's probably not a fall at all, it's a "collapse" (just to muddy the waters)

Baggs

But, people don't "simply fall over", M0nica. There's always a reason for a fall. It may not be the fault of the person who fell but there's still a reason.

Old people and toddlers fall/have falls more than people whose physical balance mechanisms have got past the toddler stage or whose balance mechanisms haven't begun to deteriorate with old age.

Saying this is an acceptance of a fact of life (how life works) not a criticism or a judgment of inferiority that some people seem to think it is.

If someone falls because of some mechanism within themselves, their legs are weak and wobbly (like DH), they feel unbalanced or dizzy, or their hip gives, (it has been suggested with good evidence that many people do not fall and break their hip but fall because their hip breaks) then I consider that 'having a fall.' It isn't a uestion of fault, there is no uestion of fault. If I trip over a kerb, fail to see rope or banana skin. That is falling over because there is an external agent involved in the event, which, if absence would have meant no fall.

Embarrassingly, as I am the most elderly in the class, I fell at Yoga recently while trying to execute a difficult (to me) balancing pose. No injuries, just a loud tumble and red cheeks! I agree that I 'fell'. Didn't 'have a fall' Witzend!

I think what is the problem is that if a 40 year old slips on a patch of ice thats what has happened he has slipped on a patch of ice and fallen down, ends up his back or bottom.
But if a 70 + year old slips on the same patch of ice he has "had a fall" with all thr knowing looks and whispers. I think that is the annoying situation the thread is zbout.

But, people don't "simply fall over", M0nica. There's always a reason for a fall. It may not be the fault of the person who fell but there's still a reason.

Old people and toddlers fall/have falls more than people whose physical balance mechanisms have got past the toddler stage or whose balance mechanisms haven't begun to deteriorate with old age.

Saying this is an acceptance of a fact of life (how life works) not a criticism or a judgment of inferiority that some people seem to think it is.

I often hear people say that and also 'I'm under the doctor',

mae13

Since having my toes amputated, during the Pandemic, I've had a few falls, quite unavoidably as my balance has gone right out of the window.

And it's always referred to as 'having a fall'. So what?

because 'falling over' amd 'having a fall' are different things, with different causes and those who cannot be bothered to differentiate between the two, by that I mean the medics dealing with it, are doing a disservice, especially to those who simply fell over.

Those who have 'had falls', the main cause being physical problems, blood pressure, hip problems need different help to those who fell over for external reasons tripping over ropes, rugs, paving slabs etc etc and they need to be differentiated.

Last time I fell over I tripped over a guyline when camping. Id fallen asleep, woke up, realized I needed a wee before I went to bed properly, went out half asleep and promptly fell flat on my face in front of the people next door. I made sure to tell them the next morning that I hadn't been drinking. Id just tripped over a guyline in the half light!

Since having my toes amputated, during the Pandemic, I've had a few falls, quite unavoidably as my balance has gone right out of the window.

And it's always referred to as 'having a fall'. So what?

I am a bit more accepting of the medical "have a fall" teem now as posters above have said it refers not to a trip up or over something but falling down related to a drop in blood pressure etc where you just sink down for on the face of it no reason.
What for me is so irritating is the whispered he had a fall like people used to refer in whispers to cancer..

None of it helped by the term a "falls clinic".

Baggs- yes, agree. Doesn't really matter what you call it in my opinion and yes, that young couple probably will say "old/elderly lady" if they relate the story just as my OH and I helped a young skater up after a tumble from his board. He probably told his mum later - some old people helped me. Who cares. If you're over 65 you're old - no value judgement attached - just as a 25 year old is young. Doesn't mean you look or feel doddery. It's just an adjective. "My usual 20 lengths" is there to illustrate how far removed you are from frail but it won't stop others from thinking of you as old - because you (me too - I love swimming) are a "sprightly" old person. Better than the alternatives surely - not everyone makes it to the "old" category.

Calendargirl

Yes, why is it our little GC ‘fell over in the playground today’ but if it’s Granny, she ‘had a fall when out shopping’?

🤷‍♀️

This irritates me too. I simply refuse to ‘have a fall’ until it applies to everyone, not just the older generation.

That made me laugh Witzend that I also let out a fart. I have just started statins and it seems to be a side effect!!

M0nica

I have dyspraxia. going base over apex is something I have done at least once a year for the last 80 years. I definitely fall over, usually in a spectacular fashion, nothing passive about my falls.

However many years ago I taught myself to relax into falls when they happen so I rarely damage myself in any way.

Your ‘base over apex’ reminded me of my father’s ‘quaint’ expression - going arse over breakfast time!

I very nearly did that once, years ago - slipped badly on a wet floor at a Heathrow cafe while waiting for dh to arrive. Somehow managed to save myself - but in the process let out a very noisy fart!! 😱
Surrounded by people sitting all around, I somehow managed to summon the aplomb to walk off as if nothing had happened…

Everyone falls and trips over, especially my GCs! It's quite normal as long as there is no serious injury or pathological reason.
However, as I get older, having never broken a bone in my life, I do like it is important to exercise to maintain good balance and muscle strength.
I was told that small steps are better than large strides, to keep arms swinging and not carry handbags, to keep your eyes on the horizon and not on the floor and most importantly, to wear good supportive shoes.
I can't remeber the last time I fell down but I'm not taking it for granted!

A friend of mine who has been a professional dancer all her life, now hitting 70, says we need to train for our old age. It's all about balance and keeping some strength. Yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi - all can be done at any age and will help. Staying in touch with your body is natural when we're young, but we need to work at it all our lives.

I must say I’m VERY impressed with your swimming capability WITZEND. I haven’t been all winter even though I’m paying for swimming as the water is always too cold!!!! Maybe your pool is better heated, or you can stand cold water better than me!

Calendargirl

Yes, why is it our little GC ‘fell over in the playground today’ but if it’s Granny, she ‘had a fall when out shopping’?

🤷‍♀️

Little children fall over, shriek, bounce back up and carry on.

When Granny has a fall she 'll be lucky not to have a concussion, break a bone, sprain a muscle, or get a nasty bruise that takes weeks to disappear.

I refuse to say 'I had a fall', that's for old people, not me at 77. I will say 'I fell over', then I'm not treated as an old lady

I am 70 and I tripped on an uneven paving stone and went flat on my face. I definitely tripped I did not have a fall but it was extremely embarrassing as I couldn’t get up. 3 passers by had to pick me up . I was a bit bruised on my face and my knee but nothing broken

Not so much a fall , more a trip over Witzed !

I have found that if you break a hip like I have, twice, if they put 'had a fall' on your notes you are referred to the frailty clinic or whatever they call it, but if they put tripped over something you are not referred. I am exceptionally clumsy and the first time I broke my hip I caught my foot under a pipe that I wasn't aware was there, so I tripped, no referral. The second time I sat down, in the dark, on my bed that wasn't where I thought it was so I was treated as having a fall. Makes no sense.

My husband fell in the garden 3 weeks ago when he got his feet in a muddle on a narrow path and instinctively put his hand out to save himself. Unfortunately he put it into a clump of raspberry canes that he'd just pruned. He managed to badly fracture and all but sever the middle finger of his right hand. After almost immediate surgery he has 2 wire rods holding his finger together and, until they're removed on 23 April, we won't finally know whether his finger has been saved and, if so, how much, if any, feeling he will have in it. He is very definite that he fell over and didn't have a fall.
These things happen so quickly and unexpectedly but can have devastating consequences.

I tripped over a raised paving slab a month ago whilst accompanying my husband to a hospital appointment- we were literally 5 minutes away from the hospital! Although I tried to stop myself grabbing onto some railings I faceplanted the pavement and ended up with my teeth going through my bottom lip - blood everywhere- I’m on blood thinners which made things worse. As I have several teeth implants that was my first concern but thankfully they were still there! A lovely young man stopped and tried to help offering to call an ambulance but as we were right over the road we walked there. Husband went to his appointment and a nice nurse took me over to A&E where I had a CT scan and various other examinations and went to sit in the waiting room as they thought I’d need my lip stitched. Long story short after 3 hours I passed out and ended up on a trolley on a drip for another hour! No stitches were needed but the aftermath has left me with horrendous bruises down my right side and a very badly swollen leg which I had x-rayed 2 weeks ago luckily no breaks. Also had another x-ray at the dentists and again was incredibly relieved everything is ok. The whole thing has made me very wary of where I’m walking and nervous out and about. I felt so sorry for my husband as what started out as a worry for him ended up being all about me!