Part two.

Margaret Pilkington

Beacon of light
Overlooker
To Cashy and Mick...thankyou for your comments...they are very true.


This was put to her by the police officers who were in attendance.....they suggested that perhaps a keysafe to the property would be a good idea...with someone she trusts, being given the PIN.
I suggested that she get a 'lifeline' device too.Ma has one of these and it doesn't cost that much.
She is a very private lady, but was glad to be rescued...if you can call it that.
I have never heard her swear before, but when she was assisted downstairs and saw the mess made in her lobby...with both the front door and the vestibule doors smashed all she could do was shake her head and say 'My bloody doors'.

I told her it was better that than her life....she agreed.
She isn't ready to go just yet.

I told her it might be a good idea to get one of those containers that goes in the fridge....the ones that have all your details in them.
Name, age, date of birth, medications used, name of GP, and contact numbers for next of kin. We knew very few of these details to be able to give the emergency services....if she hadn't been conscious - well, it doesn't bear thinking of...and yet, it does. because if we don't t hink of it, it could happen again.

When we found the old lady, she asked me to phone her niece........she said her name was in her little phone book.
I found the book, but it wasn't much use to me as there were so many entries, I didn't know the surname of the person I was looking for...only 'Joanne'........as the lady was being dealt with by the paramedics I couldn't keep dashing upstairs to ask questions.

We did get sorted in the end....this lady has a cleaner, who was passing in her car...saw all the commotion and stopped and came in to find out what was going one......NO - she didn't have a key either, but she did know the name of the niece.

Living alone, when you are old has its problems, but they are not insurmountable....and they are being addressed.
 
The thing is with the generation of the old dear in question they were & still are very independent despite their advanced years & they really "Don't want to make a fuss or put people out", in complete contrast to some of todays more younger & able bodied members of society.
 
Spot on Son...we phoned the old girl yesterday to check on her...much as I do with Ma.
She said it was all a 'big fuss over not so much'.
Himself told her it wouldn't have been 'not so much' if it had not been Friday...he said she could have been 'downed' for 48 hours or more...cold, dehydrated...and possibly worse.

Anyway her grandson has sorted a replacement front door, and is getting onto someone about a keysafe.

It all makes sense, but once you take the independence away from these game old birds...they seem to fade away.

You have to let them do what they can do.
I've only just got ma to sanction me doing her bagwash...it has taken 2 years of persistent coercion(I was going to say 'nagging' - but that is a bit strong).
 
Dave is spot on wi that comment, Can remember mam n dad when both were really ill, saying oh i'm ok,doctors too busy to bother wi nowt. used to get really annoyed n now i'm turning into em.:D
 
me too, Cashy.

I can see me being this old lady(the one who fell) in a few years time.
I just hope there is someone out there who will rescue me...should I need it!
 
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