Post AdYHTAdzD85mIHq2Lo by grammargirl@zirk.us
(DIR) More posts by grammargirl@zirk.us
(DIR) Post #AdXcy7OlEPbv5IM4ci by grammargirl@zirk.us
2024-01-05T16:36:46Z
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The cardiologist can't seem to tell my elderly relative the basics of her medical options, let alone offer suggestions for ways she might continue to live independently while being at high risk for an event. There must be monitors that would alert relatives, but instead of getting a handout or a consultation about good options or what has worked for other patients, we're left searching the internet on our own for hours on end.
(DIR) Post #AdXfWJ5kSi916YtNgG by Hiker_Scott@mstdn.ca
2024-01-05T17:05:14Z
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@grammargirl if someone in your family has an EFAP (Employee and Family Assistance Plan) with a big company under their benefits, many have nurses, coaches, etc who can help you find resources.Either way I wish the best for you and your family.
(DIR) Post #AdXfdQZn27D2LRL6ES by maco@wandering.shop
2024-01-05T17:06:30Z
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@grammargirl an Apple Watch is what some of my friends have gone for to get notified if their parents have a fall. I think they can even call 911 automatically if you fall and don't get back up.
(DIR) Post #AdXhWS1zQRYojpKYvw by grammargirl@zirk.us
2024-01-05T17:27:43Z
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@maco Thanks! I've been gently suggesting an Apple Watch for the fall detection feature too. One problem is that she didn't fall when the events happened. She was lying on the couch. I have a friend who put a few tablets in different rooms and kept a video call continuously open though. I think a combination of things like that could work.
(DIR) Post #AdXhZCXPU9hlYVL3Vg by grammargirl@zirk.us
2024-01-05T17:28:16Z
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@Hiker_Scott Thanks. Nobody has a plan like that, but it's a good suggestion for those who do.
(DIR) Post #AdXi1U7VhzBSC6i8em by MelodyWainscott@zirk.us
2024-01-05T17:30:33Z
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@maco @grammargirl And I feel confident in that functionality. I was hammering nails into hardwood with real force the other day and my watch thought I had fallen and asked me if I had. I chose “no” of course and am extremely impressed.
(DIR) Post #AdXi1V1sKQGp0v59Vo by grammargirl@zirk.us
2024-01-05T17:33:15Z
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@MelodyWainscott @maco Yeah, it's doing amazing things these days. I've thought about getting one for myself. :)
(DIR) Post #AdXiFo1sU2JPzmuBA8 by maco@wandering.shop
2024-01-05T17:35:57Z
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@grammargirl @MelodyWainscott I regularly check mine if I go on a long walk, because the oxygen stat is what clarifies "I'm doing cardio" versus "oh no, an asthma attack."
(DIR) Post #AdXiOjJ1Plbnx6BBA0 by PeteZ@mastodonbooks.net
2024-01-05T17:37:32Z
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@grammargirl @maco My dad had a button he wore around his neck. Sorry, I don’t remember the name of the company. If he pressed the button, the company got pinged and they called us siblings. If the cardiologist didn’t recommend something like this, you might want to find another cardiologist.
(DIR) Post #AdXj5MZNp47XtDA46S by MelodyWainscott@zirk.us
2024-01-05T17:45:13Z
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@grammargirl @maco I only take mine off to charge it. That and I wear leggings with a holster pocket for my phone at all waking times so that if I have an accident I can contact whoever or at least have my phone on me if I’m not conscious and the watch calls 911. My current medical info is accessible on my iPhone. This is how I more safely maintain my independent living! (Get the watch if you can, it’s amazing and fun!)
(DIR) Post #AdXncJ4qEEksQjq8MS by grammargirl@zirk.us
2024-01-05T18:36:03Z
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@PeteZ @maco Yes, I have other relatives that use that. The problem in our specific situation is you have to be conscious to use it, and she loses consciousness.
(DIR) Post #AdXnm23yLDLsYf4SDw by maco@wandering.shop
2024-01-05T18:37:43Z
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@grammargirl @PeteZ ok yeah, that's what I was thinking. In an emergency-enough-emergency, it'd have to be something that doesn't require conscious intervention
(DIR) Post #AdXq2AyPBGkajaICNk by PeteZ@mastodonbooks.net
2024-01-05T19:03:08Z
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@grammargirl @maco Well crud. I did a quick search. All the alert systems I found assume that if you lose consciousness, you fall. Hmm. I’m not seeing anything online that specifically detects loss of consciousness. Does her heart rate fall?
(DIR) Post #AdYFMabw4HwytSc59E by grammargirl@zirk.us
2024-01-05T23:46:56Z
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@PeteZ @maco Thanks so much for trying!!!I've been trying to figure that out. Her blood pressure spikes way up. I suspect her heart rate must also change dramatically, but I don't know yet.I've looked and looked for continuous blood pressure monitors with an alert, and the best I've found (that are available to consumers) are some things that are "coming soon"
(DIR) Post #AdYGxJsvJlWvggdZw0 by opalmirror@hachyderm.io
2024-01-06T00:04:48Z
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@grammargirl Cardiology, Occupational Therapy and Social Work are three very different careers. The cardiologist is a focused specialist on the organ system but hasn't a clue how people functionally live or what options they can look into to live more effectively and comfortably (OT and SW). Don't expect the cardiologist to get it. The Primary Care Provider is supposed to help get the OT and SW involved. Your elderly relative needs more comprehensive care.
(DIR) Post #AdYHTAdzD85mIHq2Lo by grammargirl@zirk.us
2024-01-06T00:10:34Z
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@opalmirror Thanks for the perspective.
(DIR) Post #AdYHhTJ4cVP6EHsMOu by opalmirror@hachyderm.io
2024-01-06T00:09:13Z
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@grammargirl And I'm sorry if I come across as mansplaining; I know you're doing all the footwork and know all this. It just takes me back to my mom's cardio-renal failure that took four years to kill her after the initial disastrous heart failure hospitalized her for several weeks, and then she had to go to assisted care for 6 months. She got stronger, returned home and lived independently the next 3.5 years with increasing part-time in-home help. I helped her juggle a panel of care providers.
(DIR) Post #AdYHhU4DnD7MaVw0tE by grammargirl@zirk.us
2024-01-06T00:13:09Z
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@opalmirror It's wonderful to hear she was able to live independently again.
(DIR) Post #AdYIxwRo8u5XCCNWwi by juliewebgirl@mstdn.social
2024-01-06T00:27:20Z
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@grammargirlThere is such a gaping hole in this area. With the number of boomers aging, you'd think there'd be some amazing solutions. A few open source would be nice too so you don't have to be hooked into some likely not so secure system. Get a group of people who have aging parents who aren't ready for assisted living, in a room and I swear they could hammer out a solution. Pull in some devs and presto. (Laughing at my own simplistic solution. "Presto!")
(DIR) Post #AdYKCso43u8sCXTesa by PeteZ@mastodonbooks.net
2024-01-06T00:41:12Z
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@grammargirl @maco Good luck with your search. You’d think there’d be a demand for something like that, given the graying of America. Maybe there are technical difficulties.
(DIR) Post #AdYL4bzwlrrvhzegMK by opalmirror@hachyderm.io
2024-01-06T00:50:56Z
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@grammargirlAll us kids are so grateful for those last few years with her. She didn't want to have kids when she did, but always made us the most important people in her life, and tried to be a good friend to all of us despite our differences and challenges. She made sure we knew that we were her most important, favorite, trusted people. We had lots of good times, and we were able to be with her continuously from Mother's Day weekend through her last day, about 10 days after that. <3 <3 <3
(DIR) Post #AdYMOc2YQMmJaJyYG8 by opalmirror@hachyderm.io
2024-01-06T01:03:48Z
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@grammargirl That's Lois, my mom, and behind her left to right her four kids - Sue, Bill, James (me), and Cathy. This was March 31st 2015 at her home, about 7 weeks before she passed.
(DIR) Post #AdYMOcmzdhvPuLhddw by grammargirl@zirk.us
2024-01-06T01:05:45Z
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@opalmirror She sounds like a fabulous mom, and it's wonderful you were able to spend so much time with her near the end.