Getting older takes courage

Getting older takes courage. Maybe you Heard about the couple from Georgia the wife Maria Riffle, age 74 was in a walker trying to help her husband Roy who was in a wheelchair at age 86. The husband had taken his power wheelchair to a trip to a local shop and the chair went off the walk way to uneven ground where he got stuck. Maria seeing this came outside with her walker to help her husband. Roy was dressed for the cold, But Maria only wore her dress. And she made an effort to help her husband she fell and was unable to get up. 

The couple unable to help each other we're helpless and were there for 17 hours. They were discovered the next morning by the police where they found Roy alive but Maria had died of exposure to the weather. In just a moment of time they found themselves in great danger.

When I was first told this I had the impression that both people died. It made me think when do we rethink our living conditions of independence or a safer environment of assisted living? But as I got the more complete story the question was still valid, but I can see that the couple had made adjustments to keep their independence with assisted technology. We live our lives with no guarantee that we may face dangers that we didn't foresee. As an armchair quarterback we've we see maybe they had options to deal better with the situation. There is always uncertainty and the possibility of dangers that we are unaware of. But Maria's actions showed courage and despite her limitations she tried to help her husband. 

Their story gives us three possible interventions that might help them avoid the tragic death. 

In a day of having a cell phone this could've saved their lives. If we have parents who are aging it is a good idea to pick up their calls no matter how unconvient. You know telephones were first invented for people to talk with, today many people do not pick up their phones and they may not listen to her messages for a day. Us seniors have to be able have the ability to enter the world of texting.

When I took life guarding I learned to let a strong non swimmer wear out before I intervened. If you try to help too soon both you and the non swimmer can drowned. Is there any thing you can use to not get in trouble like a a pole or lounge chair to bring the non swimmer to safety. Maria had possible options that would work. 

Listen to your mother, she was right when she said put on your coat new go outside. Dress for the weather. In Maria's haste to help her husband she made a fatal mistake she was not prepared for the weather. We also have that ability of can-doism where we attempt to do something that we really can't do. Her better move would have been to call for help. Roy was not in immediate danger. Of course I'm not taking in where were these people are in their mental health. But all of us from we get older we'll have more limitations on what we can do and we have to get used to the idea that we need help. Often we act before we think. Maria actually was showing great courage, tragically it would not be enough.

What if Roy or Maria has an alert service that you see advertised on TV all the time? Like a phone this could've been lifesaving.

As a couple both of these people had severe disabilities. I am sure they're drive to be independent played a big factor but when we make that decision to relocate to living with assistance? I think that's a tough question that families have to work out. 

Getting older isn't for the faint of heart. Maria acted with great courage and paid the ultimate price, but their story may help us be better prepared for this type of dangerous situation. We are all going to get there as we age maybe we can learn from those you are there now good examples and bad.

By the way it's always a good idea to keep walking.