No Regrets & Update

Have you ever heard yourself or someone else say he/she wished they had been in contact with someone before it was too late?

This past weekend, Solange, my friend and Scrabble-playing partner, who resided here in the mill apartments, passed away. While her death was not totally unexpected because of health issues, it was still a shock. We had spoken a few days earlier to schedule our next game, she told me she was feeling too tired to play. As she often had these days in recent weeks, I told her I would call again in a day or two. She was a fierce Scrabble player who disliked losing and would always ask to play another game. We often split our wins and always shared a treat.

When her son phoned on Saturday, I instinctively knew that the call was not a good one.

Solange was 95 years young, born in Antwerp, Belgium and a Holocaust survivor. She was a registered nurse who later relocated to the US with her late artist husband and they lived in many cities in our home state of NJ. Coincidentally, their last NJ address was close to our last NJ address, although we had never met there. She relocated to NH after her husband's passing to be closer to her son who lived in the state.

Solange became a close friend of both myself and my husband. Patrick. We enjoyed food and conversations through shared dinners at our apartment homes. The most recent was at our home on Easter when she and another resident joined us for dinner. She insisted on bringing a homemade banana tart, which was delicious, even the leftovers.

Private services were held quickly in NJ early this week in keeping with her faith. We were unable to attend; however, I asked her son about holding a celebration of life here at a later date. Her family will be returning to clear out her residence.

This isn't the first time a family member or friend has passed and as sad as it's always been, my goal is to never have regrets about not having called, visited or written. Of course, we all have regrets for many things, but for myself keeping in touch means having a few less.

Thanks to fellow bloggers who asked about the status of my left knee injury, 

Here's an update following an orthopedics consultation and my first physical therapy session. The good news is that the orthopedic review showed the knee structure are intact with a mild degree of arthritis and a mild kneecap dislocation, without any significant tissue damage. Recovery (no pain) could take 6-8 weeks.

My nemesis: Elliptical 

The physical therapy appointment included an evaluation and balance testing and confirmation that my balance could be improved, the lack of which can be attributable to age. For the record, the knee injury wasn't caused by a fall, as I am always careful to avoid hazards as much as possible, particularly snow and ice. Instead, my injury was caused by exercise, specifically the use of an elliptical, stationary equipment in the Clocktower gym. 

As I've learned, repetitive motion on an elliptical can lead to overuse injuries, especially in the knees or hips. Also, the elliptical's motion has been labelled awkward or unnatural, potentially leading to improper form or discomfort. 

If not appropriately positioned using the elliptical, a user could strain their knees — as I did. Also, the low-impact design of this machine often leads to overuse injuries in the knee and hip as users tend not to realize they're doing more than they’re physically able — and that would describe my actions. And, when the orthopedic PA (physician's assistant) shared that she never uses this equipment, I thought, why did I ?

My PT assessment concluded that no brace or walking assistance (cane, walker) are needed. However, I received a set of at-home exercises to perform before the next appointment later this week. Yes, I've been doing them them as this will be the routine for up to 10 weeks

Which do you think results in death more often — hip fracture or cancer?

That's what the PT therapist asked me and, while I had not read any statistics beforehand, I knew that given my age the correct answer would be hip fracture.

While cancer is a leading cause of death at any age, hip fractures can have a higher mortality rate for older adults in the short-term. Being cancer-free may not result in death, but breaking your hip could be fatal. 

Studies have indicated that the one-year mortality rate for older adults with a hip fracture can be over 20% and sometimes worse than those with various types of cancer. Also, the risk of death after a hip fracture can persist for up to 10 years after a fracture.

Why are hip fractures so deadly?

It's due to many factors including immobility-related complications, surgical risks and the overall impact on health and quality of life. One of the most serious risks is the increased likelihood of developing blood clots, leading to pulmonary embolisms or strokes. 

Sometimes, recovery can be long and challenging and can also lead to less independence. Other potential health risks include pneumonia, heart failure or blood clots, any one of which can increase the risk of death. Female patients tended to have better post-fracture survival than men, but had a significantly higher risk for getting a fracture. Unfortunately, people over age 85 had the worst odds for survival.

It's important to note that statistics for hip fracture deaths do not apply are not a one-fits-all scenario. It's not just age that's a factor, but gender, pre-existing conditions like cardiac disease, dementia and chronic respiratory issues, plus the timeliness and quality of surgical treatment — all can impact mortality rates. While a 1-year mortality of about 21 to 22% has been cited in online sources for surgically-repaired hip fractures, this is only an average.

Just to be clear — Hip replacement does not result in as many deaths as hip fractures. While this surgery does have certain risks, it's usually much lower than the mortality rate associated with hip fractures, especially in the initial months after the fracture. Several people I know, including fellow bloggers, had successful operations and recovery from hip fractures.

Exercises to improve my balance

Balance decline in adults of (ahem) a certain age isn't uncommon, so I'm not alone. Lack of balance can lead to increased risk of falls and possible fractures. Aging brings a loss of muscle mass and strength, especially in the legs and core, making it harder to maintain balance. While I've been fortunate not to have a serious fall, not taking chances is my goal. 

The balance and strengthening exercise I've been assigned to do at home do not require specialized equipment. All that's needed is a chair and who doesn't have that equipment at home and resistance band provided by the PT therapist, but which can also be bought online. Since I'm not planning to become a statistic anytime soon, these are being done on a daily basis. 

Fall detection (not fall protection) is why I wear an Apple watch  as I often go walking alone. This device will automatically call emergency services if someone becomes immobile after a hard fall and send a message with the location to emergency contacts. Apple is not the only fitness tracker with fall detention, brands by Samsung, Garmin and Goggle also have this important feature.

If anyone is interested in more information, The National Institute on Aging website has helpful information here Older Adults and Balance Problems.