Apparently one of the more frequently occurring risks, at least based on the medical alert device commercials on TV and the only health-related question my O2 therapy guy asks me at the monthly check of the concentrator.
Having needed to stay briefly in an assised living/rehab facility because of a very few things I was not allowed to do on my own while recovering from surgery to implant the defibrelator - pulling up compression stockings being the biggest bugaboo, but carrying my own meal tray was high up on the list, I can attest that the loss of independent mobility those places impose on "residents" is frustrating, annoying, and maddening. (Of course, being some 30+ years younger than the average resident age did not help.) That and having to both sign out/sign in just to go sit in the sun away from the smell of disinfectant (and yes, old people) was irritating, but being checked on every 15 minutes to see if I had fallen over or wandered away (or having sex with that nice Mrs. Willis three doors down on the other side of the hall) was the breaking point. (OK, Mrs. Willis was 93, slightly senile, and pretty much tried to rape anything remotely resembling the male species so making sure I was not in her clutches was all in all acceptable.)
My internal conversations say that I will go into a care facility when I am no longer able to do activities of daily living on my own, but I'm pretty sure I will be kicking and screaming in attempts to do on my own those few I retain the ability to do.
stay safe.
