For several days I’ve had a bookmark on a post that I’d read but had not linked to (from sheer laziness primarily, but also a little bit of clearing out, so I’m not a complete slug). Then a friend had a fall, ended up in the hospital and as of yesterday, had a new hip installed. I’m so grateful that my friend will be OK in time. I’m also grateful that replacement parts are available. (We can have the insurance discussion later).
However, prevention’s by far the better route. To that end, when I read the post (link below), I thought: A) yep, gonna link and post that and B) yep, gonna make a greater, more concentrated effort to expand my stretching and what I do to keep muscle tone and therefore balance and an active life.
OK Now What? A Caregiver’s Guide to What Matters* (as I never tire of saying, the winner of the Friendly Caregiver Award from Caregiver Today magazine) has RN-experience-based recommendations for good body mechanics for those who are caring for people struggling with mobility — a means of retaining their own stability. It’s all about maintenance!
caregiver.com
*available at:
Head to Wind Publishing
amazon
Published by Nancy Taylor Robson
I grew up sailing and building boats with my dad, married a tugboat captain, (who I'm still happily married to) and embarked on a life of adventure, challenge and fun. My first book, Woman in the Wheelhouse, told the sometimes harrowing story of working on an old coastal tugboat as cook/deckhand then worked in Mexico in the Campeche oil fields on a supply boat. I was one of the first women in the country to earn a tug operator's license. I'm the author of three other books, Course of the Waterman, which won the Fred Bonnie Prize for the novel, the historical novel, A Love Like No Other: Abigail and John Adams, A Modern Love Story, and OK Now What? A Caregiver's Guide to What Matters, which I wrote with longtime RN and hospice nurse, Sue Collins during the time my mother-in-law was moving to the end of her life.
My second, Course of the Waterman, the coming of age novel of a young Eastern Shore waterman, won the Fred Bonnie award in 2004. My third book, second novel, A Love Like No Other: Abigail and John Adams, A Modern Love Story, takes readers into the lives of the new nation's strong-willed second First Lady and her stubborn, often-absent and adored husband, John, our second US President. I wrote the book because I'd spent big chunks of time raising children alone while my husband was at sea and felt an affinity for Abigail, but also looked to her life as a MUCH bigger challenge that informed and encouraged my own. My fourth book, OK Now What? A Caregiver's Guide to What Matters (Head to Wind Publishing, 2014) was written in collaboration with Sue Collins, RN and longtime hospice nurse and has received heartwarming feedback on how helpful it's been to many caregivers.
A freelance writer for many years, I've published personal essays, features, maritime reporting and analysis, travel, garden and more for such places as The Washington Post, Yachting, House Beautiful, The Baltimore Sun, the Christian Science Monitor, Southern Living, Sailing, and more. I'm also a University of Maryland Master Gardener who grows and cans the family's fruits and vegetables, and a Bay-Wise program certifier. I write, sail, race sailboats (occasionally), walk the German Shepherd dogs, and cook for friends and family.
View more posts
Nancy Taylor Robson 
Retaining stability is a good thing. Both of my knees have been replaced and I work at keeping my strength and balance. I found that walking is good and the Silver Sneakers program is also very beneficial. Some Tai Chi or Qigong also helps. As long as I remember to keep doing these things and not get too lazy I will be fine and I feel fortunate to still be able do them. Finding motivation is always a bit of a challenge.
I walk every day as well — the dog has dragged me down a ravine, wh doesn’t help, but the ravine was filled with leaves and snow at the time, so it was a relatively soft landing!