Welcome to my May Newsletter Please read it carefully, for it is full of simple little tips which affect  all of us ( me included).  Just for fun I have titled it ... LIFT RIGHT LIFT RIGHT It used to be "Left right! Left right!" As school kids were tutored into correct marching.  Lift legs high, look straight ahead, and be brisk about it.  Time marches on, as kids become adolescents, then adults and finally "seniors". This instruction is probably one of the most important throughout life, even more so as persons gradually age. Mobility is vital. Lifting the feet and moving forward is essential to normal living.

Bones grow rapidly in childhood and adolescence, and bone density is usually maximum in early years. However, from mid life on, it gradually then rapidly decreases. This means falls as kids are rarely important. Bones can bend, or develop quickly healing "greenstick fractures" But older bones become brittle, and healing is much slower. 

NASTIES AWAIT
So, take care where you walk. There are millions of "nasties" out there, waiting to trap the unwary. Lifting feet high as you walk will avoid many obstacles. Outdoors, pathways are notorious. Tiny berries and flowers from overhanging trees become slippery, specially when wet. Fallen branches, twigs, leaves, pebbles and stones, holes. mushy rubbish await the unwary. Uneven adjoining concrete slabs on public paths area a silent trap.

Kicking them and falling is notorious, exacerbated  at night. Gutters, stuff on roadways, potholes are out there to entrap. Inside the home, there are hundreds of risks. Loose mats, specially with upturned edges, cords from electrical devices, wet lino or tiled floors are frequent trouble makers. Paper on the floor is ubiquitous. Specially if there are several sheets or gloss paper, one can skid and tumble. Good lighting is helpful, walking in the dark is more dangerous. 

LIFT FEET HIGH
Lifting the feet high will help avoid severe falls. Scuffing along increases risks exponentially. A fall in the bathroom can easily involve hitting other parts as you go down - limbs, head, face, and notoriously the hip. 

I’ve been called  to see an elderly lady living alone lying on the  freezing bathroom floor having slipped getting out of the shower - with broken bones and unable to move, call for help or get to the phone. Her fractured bones were fixed, but the severe pneumonia she developed was an added burden. Care at all times, irrespective of age, is essential.  

TIME TO CONSIDER
Is it time to consider re-locating?  Whether it be an ageing mum or dad, uncle, or aunt, granny or gramps, or friend, the family home ultimately becomes too big, and a headache. Let someone else do all the work. Can’t rely on rellies forever (they have their life to live also).
 
Lovely "Vimiera Village" at Eastwood  caters for all. There are modern and comfy ILUs - Independent Living Units, where outside work is done by others, but you care for yourself, and can enjoy the company of others.

Or settle into the Assisted Living Units. Here all meals, morning and afternoon tea are provided by our own cooks. There is on site management, linen and domestic cleaning service, emergency call buttons, and lots lots more. 

Call David
Call David on 02 9868 7544. Come and look around, and bring your friends.  Meantime, take a "virtual tour" with me on vimieravillage.com.au. We would love you to be part of the "family".

Sincerely your friend,