So sorry to hear this. I stepped off a step in my house 9 months ago and tore a tendon. I am just now not feeling pain while walking.

Do you know anyone who uses one? What are the pros and cons of each?

You might have to retire those flip flops.

Ow-wow-ouch! Good advice above so I won't repeat it. Just take care of yourself, please, tonight and as you heal :-)

Oh Glenda I am sorry! I had a bad spill weeks ago, cracked ribs and sprained wrist and thumb. Hope you heal quickly!

Gosh, that's *scary*! Are you reasonably sure you didn't fracture anything? Did you hit your head? Got some ice packs? Maybe you should give your primary a call. Other than the KT, who have you told about your accident?

Haven't talked with anyone.

Had my heating pad by my chair, and using it right now. Tylenol and turmeric taken.

Didn't hit my head, but it's my side I'm heating right now. NOT my ribs, just my waist muscles pulled. My shin hurts the most with the rug burn and I put pain relieving cream on as soon as I got into the chair.

Thank you KT for caring.

What a scare! I sincerely hope that you are alright. Please throw away the flip flops and any other footwear that can slip off or is in any way unsecured on your foot.

I took a fall in my home a few years ago and seriously hurt myself. I was wearing a loose slide type of shoe that I simply walked out of while leaving the kitchen carrying a glass of water.

How quickly we can fall. I'm so sorry that you did Glenda and weren't hurt worse than you were. You will be sore for a while. I hope you heal quickly and throw away those flip flops. I've fallen twice...my cat ran between my legs and down I went flat on my butt. Lots of internal brusing. Fell in my bedroom hitting my side on a wooden cupboard, injuring ribs. Pain so bad I could hardly breathe and thankful I had very strong narcotic pain pills.

I think you need to be using ice for the first 24-48 hours, rather than heat. Heat will increase the swelling and inflammation, whereas ice reduces swelling and pain. Heat is more for chronic type injuries.

Google "after a fall should you use ice or heat" - there are tons of articles about which to use.

Yes to icing first.

OH Gosh! falls are so unsettling! Leaves you with such a body shock feeling. Hoping you heal quickly and pamper yourself. Don't forget to use ice first day or two instead of heat. Even if heat feels better.

Glenda, please be careful! We love you. Hope you aren't hurt. Hugs!

I’m sorry about your fall Glenda. It’s a worry when you’re alone. Consider calling doctor tomorrow if you don’t feel right.

I do not know if all areas have it but if you can reach a phone you can call the fire department for what is called a "Lift Assist". They prefer if you would use the non-emergency number rather than 911 unless you hurt yourself or hit your head if you fall.

You do not have to fall only need help standing. I used them several times when my husband would simply sit on the floor then lay down before he went to the nursing home.

Oh man, that's awful. I hope you feel better quickly. I agree with Elmer about a smart watch of some kind. Especially if the life alerts and other necklace type alerts are only effective for a limited distance.

Please let us know how you are doing.

Glenda, please contact your primary care physician and describe your accident and symptoms. A fall is not a minor injury for a senior citizen.

Please toss the flip flops and remove most of the rugs.

Glenda, I am sorry you fell but glad you are okay, except for minor scrapes and pulls. Also, after watching Annie's video I am re-thinking our kindles. :)

Glad you are OK, Glenda. I don't trust myself in flip-flops most of the time.

I'm so sorry you fell. I hope the soreness and stiffness isn't too bad and that you recover quickly. You be careful! Don't go breaking or tearing anything. It could be with all your pool activities that you may have rescued yourself in some way as you fell so that it wasn't as bad as it could have been.

I know that happens if I trip over a root while running. I can rescue myself to a certain extent because of my strength classes.

Check this one out. There are a lot of them out there that do not have monthly fees.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011X9UVF0?creativeASIN=B011X9UVF0&imprToken=y7H79aiux1mCGiiOC1Y55w&slotNum=7&tag=aginginplaceorg-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1

My mother and my other mother both had them. My mother chose to get it and then refused to use it, managing to make her way to the phone instead and calling us, even though she had the darn thing around her neck. My other mother had it on her, fell in the bathroom at 2am, couldn't get up and laid there for hours, refusing to use the thing until after 8 am because the fire department makes such a fuss and she didn't want to disturb her neighbors.

So don't bother getting one unless you are going to be willing to use it.

Some of them have locating capabilities so the helpers know your location.

Some give just a buzz to the signal centre and they call a predetermined list of caregivers until they find one available immediately for assistance. Also can call 911 if none available, if such procedure predetermined to be the last option.

Others offer the capability to speak to the central office via a nearby phone, but I think that some carry the contact technology onboard. But unless their monthly fee is much less than a phone, why not choose to pay the extra for all of the other services available via one's phone, watch, etc.?

ole joyful

Glenda, if pain continues, please get checked out. DH (92) fell in the entrance lobby to Panera in January. Had help getting up and drove home. Was in pain, thinking he had pulled a groin muscle. After two days, the pain was so bad that I insisted we go to urgent care. He was X-rayd and told that he broke the head off the femur and it required surgery! He went by ambulance to the hospital and had a modified hip replacement the next day.

Just to say that you never know.

So sorry that you fell. Ouch! Hoping today is a better day.

Glenda, so sorry you fell. Do let us know how you are doing this morning. Doesn’t your son live fairly close by? I would for sure let him know what happened, even though it’s over and done now. If you can take Aleve, it really helps with soreness for a couple of days.

I agree with Elmer, a watch you can ping or use for multiple purposes, including sending a medical alert, would be preferable. You wont have to worry about carrying something else around.

Yes, get rid of those flip flops for every day use. Pool use only for being sanitary and then be careful as surfaces can still be slippery. I gave up flip flops a long time ago for different reasons (plantar fasciitis) but they are the worst for your feet.

So sorry this happened. I hope you are feeling better. I imagine your pride was seriously hurt along with everything else. I would not get one of those button things. I have an aversion to gadgets that serve only one purpose. Smart watches seem a better value. Apple watches have many health apps and capabilities built into them as well as fall detection.

Checking in to see how you are today! Hope you 'iced' (off and on in 10 - 15 minute increments). *I* would be taking heavy-duty narcs every four hours. *I* would be calling my primary -- and actually doing what I was told, even if it meant the ER. (Don't drive yourself there.)

Falling is another of those wonderful reminders that we are OLD. We hate to admit it to ourselves, but we are becoming a bit frail. No point pretending otherwise, so own up to it, and get checked out -- if only to lake a load off OUR minds!

Glenda, sorry about your fall. Hope you are doing better today. How quickly things happen.

Patricia, that scenario sounds like something that could very well include me someday. Poor thing, laying there all night. Oh my gosh.

I hope you feel better very soon, so sorry. I've been there more than once.

Gosh, I'm just reading this now...was very busy yesterday and wasn't on line much. So glad you're okay. As someone suggested, a call to your P.C. might be wise, just to discuss what happened. Another very good suggestion made was to get rid of the flip flops. I have some rug pads from a carpet store that are very thin but seem to anchor my area rugs in place very nicely. Most of my friends that live alone switched from the Alert companies to the Apple watches. They are quite pricey but a small price to pay to continue living at home. Getting old aint easy.

P.S. Just watched Annie's video. Who knew........you have Macgyver down pat! I do think you should look into a smart watch. You can automatically call a friend, relative or 911. I'm glad I had my knee surgery. Rolling over and crawling on my knees would not have been possible before it.

Oh goodness, Glenda. So sorry this happened to you. And I agree about getting rid of the flip flops, based on personal experience. And thank you Elmer and Joyful about the info on those alert gadgets. I had wondered if they were truly worthwhile. I do have a Fitbit, but don't have an Apple Smartwatch. Will check to see if the Fitbit has such an alert, but it probably does not. And thank you, patriciae, for mentioning the vest. I have tried and tried to take my iPhone with me every time I move, but just can't get into that habit.

I have fallen twice and the first time used a McGuyver technigue to get up. The next time was last late fall or early winter (it wasn't cold), in front of my house. Thank God there were two guys across the street who came over and helped me up. Also, no injuries either time.

I do know that I have noticed myself stumbling/tripping more recently so it is time to get serious about having something with me at all times to provide a method of calling for help. It will be the vest (which I had never thought of, I have never worn vests for anything) or a watch - I am hoping the Fitbit has some notice, but am really sure it doesn't because my granddaughtes would have told me; they are avid users of Fitbit.

Again, thank you all for the info you provided for Glenda but is helping me, too, and Glenda, you take care.

So sorry you fell Glenda. Hope today finds you feeling more yourself.

I see you haven't responded to this post today, so I hope you are still okay!

UPDATE Been doing a LOT of sleeping and not moving around much unless I have to.

Slept well last night until noon today, wow

Was afraid I might have bruised a rib, and would call doctor. Looked up the symptoms, and I don't have any, so hopefully in a few days the soreness will go away.

If NOT I'll call the doctor.

Rug burn I followed instructions on search. Used Polysporin.

Did have an expensive FitBit son gave me and took it back shortly after receiving it Christmas.

Thanks everyone for your concern and advise.

Thanks for putting our minds at ease, Glenda. A LOT of sleep can be good...or not. I'd be checking with the doctor.

That must have been scary, Glenda. I'm glad you weren't badly hurt.

Whatever type of alert or phone you have it's only good if you're compulsive about having it with you. I had a medical alert pendant that was useful within a certain distance from my house. Also it was one I could speak to, not requiring I be near the base. I was compulsive about putting it on my bedside table each night and putting it on immediately when I got up. (I could also wear it in the shower) thanks to having it on when I went out to get the morning paper at 6:30 and fell and broke my hip I was able to get help immediately.

Do yourself a favor: get one as soon as possible. . .and ditch those flip flops!

So sorry this happened Glenda. At least you weren’t severely injured and also that the food didn’t make a big mess on the carpet. I think Elmer’s suggestion was a very good idea. It’s easy to wear a watch everyday. You can wear it anywhere. My daughter wears her Apple Watch in the ocean, so you could wear it in the pool and the shower. Take this as a wake up call. So glad your fall wasn’t worse.

I hope you are feeling better today.

I too hope you're feeling better and that you'll look into one of the medical alert necklaces, as you may not always have a pocket for your phone. If it is pricey (I don't know,) you could ask your family to give you ___ months of service as gifts, in lieu of what they normally give you.

I'm so sorry you fell! And I hope you continue to improve. If an Apple or other watch isn't for you, may I suggest what I've done for my mother? I bought her a passport pouch - like the ones you wear under your clothing, around your neck. She keeps her phone in that, along with anything else she feels she needs at all times. She has fallen, and was able to use her phone to call a neighbor for help.

a series 5 apple watch has some kind of fall alert to contact an emergency contact, also with cellular capability you are able to call from it, i have one coming this week so will learn more when i get it

I have the iWatch with the Alert. Since mine also has cellular I can make or answer a call from my watch.

From Apple's web site:

If Apple Watch Series 4 or later detects a hard fall while you're
wearing your watch, it taps you on the wrist, sounds an alarm, and
displays an alert. You can choose to contact emergency services or
dismiss the alert by pressing the Digital Crown, tapping Close in the
upper-left corner, or tapping "I'm OK."

If your Apple Watch detects that you're moving, it waits for you to
respond to the alert and won't automatically call emergency services. If
your watch detects that you have been immobile for about a minute, it
will make the call automatically.

After the call ends, your watch sends a message to your emergency
contacts with your location letting them know that your watch detected a
hard fall and dialed emergency services. Your watch gets your emergency
contacts from your Medical ID.

maire_cate

Glenda- you are most welcome. The only downside is the cost - the watches are pricey and the cellular service added $10.00 a month to my cell phone bill.

Patricia, we are not strangers :)

" the cellular service added $10.00 a month to my cell phone bill"

Some of the services are more than that and offer only a panic button, not a phone and other apps too.

Good point Elmer. I thought the iWatch was one of the ugliest things I've seen and even returned the one DH gave me when they first came out.

I still think they're unattractive on a small wrist but now I love the convenience and I can wear it in the pool. DS bought it for me when DH was having major health issues and this way I knew he could get in touch with me even when I didn't have my iPhone with me.

Maire_cate the size is what has deterred me, i like the option of responding to texts and answering calls while out by pool also without having phone out there. I started with a fitbit that showed texts crawling across screen so now I am ready to move up

I hate to be the Debbie Downer with the scary story, but Mom’s across the street neighbor fell several years ago. His lawn service came and could not get him to come to the door. The lawn service guy got the extra key from Mom and went in. The neighbor had been lying on the floor for 3 or 4 days unable to get to the phone. He spent quite a while in ICU and then rehab. I don’t believe he ever returned to his home.

The price you pay for a device that will alert someone that you’ve fallen is comparatively small. I would get one that senses a fall and calls for help automatically.

btw, DH gets on the floor every day and gets up, just to make sure he can. I do it about once a week. I’m a bit younger than he and have a little more agility.

Hope you are feeling better and ready for more barbecue!

@Annie Deighnaugh, love the video. When DH wakes up, I’m going to get him to watch it!