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My 83 year old aunt is in a nursing home and she broke her hip today
She has to get operated on next week. Why does all my family think she is not going to make it. Everyone keeps saying that a broken hip is basically a death sentence in an elderly person. Thoughts?
It definitely can be a dire medical situation for the elderly. Most who die of complications from a broken hip also have other medical issues going on. If your aunt is in otherwise good health, she may very well recover just fine. Hold a good thought for her and don't let your family's predictions get you down.
The subsequent inactivity is usually the cause of clots. Just encourage her to do exactly what the physical therapist tells her to do. Hope she recovers.
It IS fairly common for death to occur in the elderly after breaking a hip. My own Grandfather died after breaking his hip - he was 84 and otherwise quite healthy.
He came down with pneumonia after his operation, and then ended up with a couple of infections. It became a "one after the other" type of thing.
He was in the hospital for THREE months before he died.
Make certain that your Aunt follows all of the Dr's orders; some may seem inconsequential but it is far too easy for something to go wrong with geriatric patients.
My 83 year old aunt is in a nursing home and she broke her hip today
She has to get operated on next week. Why does all my family think she is not going to make it. Everyone keeps saying that a broken hip is basically a death sentence in an elderly person. Thoughts?
So sorry to hear about your aunt.
I would hope that the nursing home would be able to offer rehab services that would maximize the chance that she will get back to her previous level of functioning. Good care in the hospital postop should minimize the risk of things like pneumonia and blood clots in the legs.
She may find some of the things they will do after surgery annoying. For example, they may use pulsatile stockings to help prevent clots. Many folks do not like them, but they work. If possible, someone should stay at the hospital with her round the clock.
Do we know the circumstances that led to the fracture?
My 83 year old aunt is in a nursing home and she broke her hip today
She has to get operated on next week. Why does all my family think she is not going to make it. Everyone keeps saying that a broken hip is basically a death sentence in an elderly person. Thoughts?
No, but generally speaking, living in a nursing home is. Have you ever been to one of those places?
Do you not have ANYONE in the family who can take her in and care for her?
No, but generally speaking, living in a nursing home is. Have you ever been to one of those places?
Do you not have ANYONE in the family who can take her in and care for her?
20yrsinBranson
It can be difficult to find a good nursing home, but sometimes that is the only alternative. My mother was in one for three and a half years, and got excellent care. She required 24 hour a day care, with frequent turning, after a devastating stroke, and I had to work and could not afford to pay for in home caregivers. She never developed a single bedsore, and I was able to visit her almost daily.
So for some of us, the nursing home is not the best alternative, but the only one.
She lives in Italy unfortunatley. She is all alone in the hospital right now Thanks for the replies.
It must be very difficult for you. I hope she gets better. I'm sure we all do. It's no fun when parents get older and these things happen.
20yrsinBranson
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