I haven’t run for 10 days. My Dad had a bad fall in the bathroom and broke his hip last week. He lay there for over an hour before the ambulance came, with my brother trying to persuade him not try to get up. Once the ambulance came it took another hour for them to get him out. Traumatic for all of us, but Dad has Alzheimer’s and forgot about it all within 24 hours and my brother and I are still traumatised! He’s doing well now with 2 screws in his hip and a poster near his bed that we wrote for him telling him where he is and why. We celebrated his 94th birthday with him yesterday around his hospital bed. He’s now having physio and will be there for some weeks, we think. He is delighted that he’s all “connected up” and doesn’t have to get up to go to the loo! He’s in good spirits and regaling the nursing staff with his stories about the war. Someone goes in to see him every day.
So with Dad safe and being well looked after, this morning I got up and decided to run. As always, I’m so glad I did! It felt good to be out there again, so good that I set off far too quickly! I had decided on 3K but was enjoying it enough to extend it to 4K. I met a number of runners and walkers, all of whom greeted me including a very polite little boy of about 8 who “hoped I was enjoying my run” 😊 I exchanged a joke with one of the bin men and it seemed to me that my village was a lovely place to be this morning.
I did step it out a little for the last km as I like to do, to get a bit of a workout, but as I walked uphill to ‘my’ favourite steps to get my breath back, my legs were definitely more tired than usual! Now home with stretches done and a big mug of coffee. Feeling good! 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️ ☕️😊👍
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8:05, 8:23, 8:18, 6:55
Written by
Jools2020
Graduate10
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So sorry to hear about your dad but it sounds like he's doing well and he's in good spirits. It'll take a bit longer for you and your brother to recover from the shock I expect. But you've got your running to help you along the way 🤗 great one for you today, it sounds like one of those 'good for the soul' runs ☺️🏃♀️ Hope you enjoyed your coffee ☕
So sorry about your dad Jools, that must have been an awful experience. I'm glad he is doing well now, and hope that you and your brother recover from the shock soon too. 🥰
Another great run for you, a recovery run in every sense of the word by the sounds of it. Take care of yourself and your brother, and make sure you let him take care of you too. Sending big virtual hugs 🤗🤗
Similar distressing story. It took 4 to get Dad out. They needed a Southampton sling to strap him in and manoeuvre him safely into an upright position round the narrow hallway downstairs. I couldn’t even look. Dad was out of it on morphine by this point and later completely fabricated the story of how he came to be in hospital, confusing all the A & E staff, who were unaware that he has Alzheimer’s as it is not apparently on his records!
Flippin heck, that's not good about your dad, hope he'll be ok, i know just what a fall can do with old folk ☹ and it can be very traumatic for everyone.I was wondering why you hadnt run for a bit, anyway, glad you were able to get out for a run, as i'm sure it will help with other stuff.
Well done Jools. Sorry to hear about your Dad, it sounds like he is being well looked after now and even better, like he is having a nice time 😊 Stay safe and well 🤗🤗
Sorry to hear your Dad - and you! - have been through the Mill lately. You and your brother are very caring siblings it seems and if your Dad is able to have lucid moments, he'll feel very comforted and proud of you.Great that you had a run and no wonder it started a bit fast, you must have had a lot of pent up feelings bursting to get out.
Thank you. Yes there were definitely a few pent up feelings there! I have a sister, too that lives close by and helps a lot. We’re taking it in turns to visit so that Dad has someone going every day.
I wondered why you hadn't run lately.So sorry to hear about your Dad. I know that must have been a really traumatic experience for you and your brother but he's in the right place, being looked after and at least you can visit.
I bet that run was just the ticket to destress and rejuvenate. Well done 👍
I've not been out myself for a while now due to back issues - it's driving me nuts
Thanks, Diane. No-one wants an ageing parent to be in hospital with the risks that are involved, but there’s nothing we can do about it and we know he’s being looked after as best they can. We arrived yesterday to a clean shaven Dad! He’ll need a lot of physio before he can come home, perhaps some weeks.
A nuisance about your back issues. I do hope that everything improves and you can run again soon.
Really sorry to hear about your Dad, pleased he's now on the road to recovery though. Hope the Alzheimer's continues to blank out the actual fall and injury, and that the poster keeps working too.
I have some inkling of what you're going through as my Dad had vascular dementia, so I also fervently hope that running will help you cope with such a horrible situation.
Thanks. The poster is doing its job and it says he’ll be there for a ‘few more days’. We don’t want to talk about weeks as he might get despondent and he has no idea how long he’s been there (8 days).
My Mum had vascular dementia, too, so I know how cruel that is.
Running always helps with everything and right now it helps with finding the calm that I need.
Hope your dad heals well! Good for you to get out, I can imagine it also helped a bit to air out the brains?
That run was much needed with the worry you’ve had with your Dads fall, I do hope he recovers well, dementia is a cruel condition but at least he doesn’t realise how long he’s been in hospital. For you and your brother I’m sending a hug and some peaceful thoughts. Run when you can, long or short it relaxes the mind
That’s true. I tend not to run when my sister is coming, but she doesn’t get here until 9 and that’s plenty of time for a short run! I should remember that 😊
My sister comes 3 times a week to help out here. It’s her paid job, but she has a lot less to do now I’m here so plenty of time for chit chat and coffee!
My goodness Jools, your run must have been time for some really welcome headspace. Any run, long or short, certainly helps clear my head and I always feel better for it. I hope your dad recovers well and that you benefit from some peace of mind knowing he’s in a safe place.
Sorry to hear about your Dad, how worrying for you and your brother. Glad to hear he’s doing well, and small mercies that his Alzeimer’s means he doesn’t really realise what’s happening.
Sounds like your run was needed for you…spotted the trademark speedy finish 😂
Flippin eck, what a week you've had. So sorry to hear about your dad, glad to hear he is on the mend, literally. I have a 94 year old mum so understand what you are going through. Well done on the run, good times and it will help you to stay sane. Take care 😀
Well done on getting out Jools. Sounds like you are doing a great job with your Dad and he’s in the right place now. Dementia seems to be hardest for the relatives than the sufferer, so make sure you make time for you.
Thanks Dexy5. Taking it a day at a time helps and making the most of what we have. My Dad has 3 of us in the area to help and 2 of us living with him right now. Although we wouldn’t wish for him to be in hospital with a broken hip, I’m telling myself to enjoy a rest from the responsibility 😊
I think the break was slightly under 2 weeks, but I had recently got back up to 3 runs a week so it was discouraging. I found 4K tough yesterday morning. Going to try a much slower paced run next just because they make me feel good 😊
A really tough week for you and your whole family. It is good to hear that your dad seems to be generally "in his happy place".Hopefully now that you know your dad is physically on the mend and with 3 of you to take in turns with the hospital visits you and your siblings will have chance to rest and regroup whilst your dad is being well taken care of.It's good to hear that running is still working It's magic for you. Take care.
Thank you, Week7. Exactly how I feel. Dad’s continuing to do well, although Physio is slow progress. He’s not eating well. He chooses Sheperd’s Pie every day for dinner, forgetting every day that he doesn’t like the hospital’s Shepherd’s Pie and leaving most of it! We will have to see if they will intervene and try something else.
It must be strange for him ordering a meal envisaging home made shepherd's pie and then being presented with something that looks and tastes completely different. Is it something an addition to your poster can help within? Look after yourself.
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Running to take my mind off things
Lying in bed...
