Helping someone w/2 broken wrists?

[KA14_HOF]

A friend of mine broke both her wrists last night. She had surgery today and will be home tonight. Her grown son will be around to help.

 

Just wanted to see if anyone here has ever had any experience with such a situation, and if so, can offer any suggestions on practical assistance that can be rendered, that someone might not readily think of off the top of their head? Work will not be a problem, as she can be off for as long as needed. Rides also won't be a problem. But day-to-day living....what can be of meaningful help?

 

Sorry if this isn't the right place to post this. I will delete this after ample time for any feedback, if that's okay.

[Le Tigre]

My wife had a fall, breaking her right forearm in 3 places…and 6 fractures in her left elbow. Dual surgeries at the same time. Casts and screws both places. 
 

She could move around and walk, but had no use of either arm. Let’s just say, that the biggest chore of the first 6 weeks was at potty time. Get used to doing a lot of wiping and cleanup. Bidets really come in handy here.
 

Until she can get actual use of her hands, she won’t be able to do things like getting out of chairs/bed…areas where hands are used for leverage. Getting dressed will be another area she will need help—even simple things like putting on pants or shirts. 

Bathing will also need some assistance—especially if she has casts. 
 

In short, her son will be one busy dude…I know I was. If she is eligible for home health visits, these are life-savers. 
 

Tough way to go…but it does get better. May God bless her. 

[KA14_HOF]

46 minutes ago, Le Tigre said:

My wife had a fall, breaking her right forearm in 3 places…and 6 fractures in her left elbow. Dual surgeries at the same time. Casts and screws both places. 
 

She could move around and walk, but had no use of either arm. Let’s just say, that the biggest chore of the first 6 weeks was at potty time. Get used to doing a lot of wiping and cleanup. Bidets really come in handy here.
 

Until she can get actual use of her hands, she won’t be able to do things like getting out of chairs/bed…areas where hands are used for leverage. Getting dressed will be another area she will need help—even simple things like putting on pants or shirts. 

Bathing will also need some assistance—especially if she has casts. 
 

In short, her son will be one busy dude…I know I was. If she is eligible for home health visits, these are life-savers. 
 

Tough way to go…but it does get better. May God bless her. 

 

Thank you. Very much appreciated, LT.

[claptonrocks]

44 minutes ago, KA14_HOF said:

 

Thank you. Very much appreciated, LT.

Wishing your friend the best 

Tough injury.

Surgery and time will cure it.

What LeTigre said was spot on.

[KA14_HOF]

1 hour ago, claptonrocks said:

Wishing your friend the best 

Tough injury.

Surgery and time will cure it.

What LeTigre said was spot on.

 

Thx. You feel so limited. But having looked after my dad in his declining years, I know there are often small things that can be genuinely helpful in difficult situations. But you have to look/think hard to discern them.

 

And, of course, your heart goes out to them for any indignities that come with the situation.

[Homer_Rice]

Here's to hope that your friend has a nice, trouble-free recovery.

2 hours ago, KA14_HOF said:

Thx. You feel so limited. But having looked after my dad in his declining years, I know there are often small things that can be genuinely helpful in difficult situations. But you have to look/think hard to discern them.

 

And, of course, your heart goes out to them for any indignities that come with the situation.

When I was "knock, knock, knockin'" a few years ago, it was definitely the small things that made a big positive difference in my mental state. I had gone from #227 to #153 during the ordeal and was completely weak and invalided. What Le Tigre says is really good advice and I'd only add these tidbits which meant so very much to me. Hair-washing and tooth-brushing are among the "indignities" one suffers but one pretty quickly learns to say "the heck with the self-consciousness and thank you for helping me get these chores done." Also, I'm a big reader and if this is the case with your friend, getting her set up with a few audiobooks is good for peace of mind. That really helped to combat bouts of complete helplessness. And that feeling, helplessness, is really the great enemy on the path to recovery. Slow and steady wins the race and learning to deal with one's impatience is good, too. Just get a small victory everyday.

 

And really good physical therapy when the time comes is a charm. I had 16 weeks of PT 3x a week and the discipline and focus made my recovery much quicker than it might otherwise have been. I'm never gonna be the same but I thank my lucky stars for what I have. In time, so will your friend.

 

Best of luck to her.

[KA14_HOF]

5 hours ago, Homer_Rice said:

Here's to hope that your friend has a nice, trouble-free recovery.

When I was "knock, knock, knockin'" a few years ago, it was definitely the small things that made a big positive difference in my mental state. I had gone from #227 to #153 during the ordeal and was completely weak and invalided. What Le Tigre says is really good advice and I'd only add these tidbits which meant so very much to me. Hair-washing and tooth-brushing are among the "indignities" one suffers but one pretty quickly learns to say "the heck with the self-consciousness and thank you for helping me get these chores done." Also, I'm a big reader and if this is the case with your friend, getting her set up with a few audiobooks is good for peace of mind. That really helped to combat bouts of complete helplessness. And that feeling, helplessness, is really the great enemy on the path to recovery. Slow and steady wins the race and learning to deal with one's impatience is good, too. Just get a small victory everyday.

 

And really good physical therapy when the time comes is a charm. I had 16 weeks of PT 3x a week and the discipline and focus made my recovery much quicker than it might otherwise have been. I'm never gonna be the same but I thank my lucky stars for what I have. In time, so will your friend.

 

Best of luck to her.

 

Thank you, @Homer_Rice. Great suggestions. Very practical & insightful. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

 

I'm glad the homeowner didn't answer a few years ago, and glad you made it through.

[AngrySquirrel]

Not sure if you have anyone tech savvy around, but something that could help is some of the home automation devices. Being able to speak and have lights turn on/off in a room or on the audio book type side asking for music or one of the audio books to play and not needing a remote could be huge for mood/mind in still being able to do something without needing another person to do it.

[KA14_HOF]

2 hours ago, AngrySquirrel said:

Not sure if you have anyone tech savvy around, but something that could help is some of the home automation devices. Being able to speak and have lights turn on/off in a room or on the audio book type side asking for music or one of the audio books to play and not needing a remote could be huge for mood/mind in still being able to do something without needing another person to do it.

I do. And I am going to mention this to them. Thanks! (that avatar...  )