Sandwiched
Many of us can recall the 1987 commercials featuring the now trademarked phrase from Life Alert Emergency Response, Inc. – “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.”™ This phrase became the source of jokes for years to come.
All kidding aside, I remember feeling relieved when my mother purchased the device and service years ago, as she lived alone in Mishawaka near South Bend at the time. I figured if anything would happen she could push the button and help would be at her side.
Boy, was I wrong.
I’ll never forget the panicked phone call from my sister one morning almost six years ago saying Mom had fallen. My world came to a halt as I waited for another phone call to hear what had happened from the paramedics.
“Thank God she pushed her Life Alert button and got help right away,” I thought.
The paramedics called back a few minutes later and explained they were taking Mom to the hospital. They told me that they didn’t think her injury was too serious. I figured I’d better go up north anyway and left work to quickly pack an overnight bag. I’d most likely be back at my desk by the next afternoon.
I was surprised to find out three hours later that Mom had broken her leg in SEVEN places! And imagine my shock when I learned she had fallen down the previous evening and had been on the floor all night.
“Mom!” I exclaimed, “Why didn’t you push your Life Alert button?”
“Well,” she replied after a long pause, “I didn’t want to bother anyone late at night.”
If I had been alone, I would have literally walked up to a wall and banged my head against it. Repeatedly.
“Mom … you pay money for that every month … it works a lot better when you PUSH THE BUTTON!” I said.
I found out later that when she finally contacted Life Alert that morning that one of the paramedics crawled through her dog door to get into the house. Mom had a small dog at the time, so you know this wasn’t a huge gap. This guy deserved a medal – and maybe a cookie or two.
Fast forward to November 2016. Mom fell one evening and yet again, didn’t push her Life Alert button. After a neighbor called me out of concern that morning, my nephew rushed over to find her on the bathroom floor.
I was alone when I got the news this time. I think my head did make repeated contact with the wall.
Folks, if you have an elderly relative who pays for this service, please have a long chat with them to explain the importance of actually using it when needed. I understand an older person’s desire for independence – we all want that. But endangering their health (or life) and worrying their loved ones because they “didn’t want to be a bother” isn’t worth it. We love them so much! We’d rather they be safe than sorry.