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Blog archive

November 2024

Event of Remembrance
11/22/2024

Phishing Scams: What You Need to Know
11/22/2024

Pupusas Family Style: Another Adventurous Dining Winner
11/22/2024

Celebrating the Holidays
11/21/2024

Genealogy Group: Discovering Our Pasts
11/21/2024

Nathan Wolford – From Tragedy to Ministry
11/21/2024

Pasadena Village Board of Directors: A Brief Overview
11/21/2024

President's Message
11/21/2024

The Day of the Dead (Dia de muertos)/ Mexican Culture/Community
11/21/2024

Vintage Celebration: Aging Like a Fine Wine
11/21/2024

Review of Racism in Our Local Past
11/20/2024

Creative Juices Flow in The Village
11/19/2024

Checking In by Ed Rinderle
11/15/2024

Eagle Poem by Joy Harjo
11/15/2024

I Shall Forget You Presently, My Dear (Sonnet IV) by Edna St. Vincent Millay
11/15/2024

Pictures From Brueghel by William Carlos Williams
11/15/2024

October 2024

ARBORIST WALK: NOT FOR TREE HUGGERS ONLY!
10/29/2024

Bill Wishner: Visual Hunter
10/29/2024

Can a Village Group Fix Our Healthcare System?
10/29/2024

Community Board Directors Strengthen Village Board
10/29/2024

Connecting with Village Connections: The A, B, C, & D’s of Medicare @ 65+
10/29/2024

Grief is a Journey: Two Paths Taken
10/29/2024

Message from the President
10/29/2024

Promoting Informed & Involved Voters
10/29/2024

What Will Be Your Legacy?
10/29/2024

1619, Approaching the Election...
10/27/2024

Beyond and Within the Village - A Star is Born
10/17/2024

Happiness by Priscilla Leonard
10/11/2024

Those Winter Sundays by Robert Hayden
10/11/2024

Unpainted Door by Louise Gluck
10/11/2024

In the Evening by Billy Collins
10/10/2024

Wild Geese by Mary Oliver
10/10/2024

Betty Kilby, A Family History
10/01/2024

Betty Kilby, A Family History
10/01/2024

Betty Kilby, A Family History
10/01/2024

September 2024

August 2024

1619 Wide Ranging Interests
08/19/2024

1619 Wide Ranging Interests
08/19/2024

First Anniversary
08/19/2024

Alexandra Leaving by Leonard Cohen
08/16/2024

Muse des Beaux Arts by W. H. Auden
08/16/2024

The God Abandons Antony by Constantinos P. Cavafy
08/16/2024

Ch – Ch – Ch –Changes
08/15/2024

Cultural Activities Team offers an ‘embarrassment of riches’
08/15/2024

Engaging in Pasadena Village
08/15/2024

Future Housing Options
08/15/2024

Message from the President
08/15/2024

There Are Authors Among Us
08/15/2024

Villagers Welcome New Members at the Tournament Park Picnic
08/15/2024

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas
08/14/2024

A narrow Fellow in the Grass by Emily Dickinson
08/13/2024

Haikus
08/13/2024

One Art by Elizabeth Bishop
08/13/2024

Poem 20 by Pablo Neruda
08/13/2024

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
08/13/2024

Trees by Joyce Kilmer
08/13/2024

July 2024

June 2024

May 2024

Emergency Preparedness: Are You Ready?
05/28/2024

Farewell from the 2023/24 Social Work Interns
05/28/2024

Gina on the Horizon
05/28/2024

Mark Your Calendars for the Healthy Aging Research California Virtual Summit
05/28/2024

Meet Our New Development Associate
05/28/2024

Putting the Strategic Plan into Practice
05/28/2024

Washington Park: Pasadena’s Rediscovered Gem
05/28/2024

Introducing Civil Rights Discussions
05/22/2024

Rumor of Humor #2416
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2418
05/14/2024

Springtime Visitors
05/07/2024

Freezing for a Good Cause – Credit, That Is
05/02/2024

No Discussion Meeting on May 3rd
05/02/2024

An Apparently Normal Person Author Presentation and Book-signing
05/01/2024

Flintridge Center: Pasadena Village’s Neighbor That Changes Lives
05/01/2024

Pasadena Celebrates Older Americans Month 2024
05/01/2024

The 2024 Pasadena Village Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
05/01/2024

Woman of the Year: Katy Townsend
05/01/2024

April 2024

March 2024

February 2024

January 2024

Thank You For Caring.

By Karen L. Whitmore
Posted: 02/12/2024
Tags: support, community

Being a Villager means that you have a community that supports you in a time of need. Here's a brief description of an incident that could happen to any of us. The important thing to note is the description of all the support that this Villager received from other Villagers during a time of personal distress.

From Karen Whitmore:

The Incident:

My anticipation of pleasure became a new experience in patience and healing, the last day of summer 2023. I was on my way to dinner with the Creative Diners group, looking forward to enjoying an unfamiliar menu and exotic cuisine. I had ridden with BJ. We were expecting to meet several others at the restaurant. Standing on the corner waiting to cross the street, I looked ahead to see if anyone in our group had already arrived. I must have turned my feet as well, and the next thing I knew, I had fallen on the sidewalk. Refusing an offer of help up, I knew that I couldn’t raise myself, and that an ambulance needed to be called.

Interestingly, I had recently read an article in the AARP magazine about ways to fall safely. I was aware that I tried to turn myself to land in a different position, but I failed. Landing on my side, my right hip bone, insured that I had broken it. I was unable to use the left leg to raise my body off the cement. 
An ambulance came and the paramedics carefully loaded me and whizzed me off to Arcadia hospital. Fortunately, my daughter lives in South Pasadena and was able to meet me at the hospital. The next hours are pretty much of a blur as I was under the influence of pain and pain medications.

The Rehab and Support:

Healing begins to happen immediately, and the PT had me up on my feet the day after surgery. After spending a week in the hospital, I was transported to a skilled nursing facility for recouperation. Esther shared her knowledge of the facility with me, so I had an idea of the setting.

At the SNF I had PT, mainly walking, baths, meals, etc. I’m sure many of you know the drill. Priyanka came to see me and brought me an orchid to cheer me up. Claire came to visit me also.

After 20 days in the SNF I was allowed to go home. Then the real work began! I had previously been an independent person, and now I was depending on people for help with many activities. A friend and my daughter alternated weeks of caregiving, the bath lady came twice a week as did the PT. I had some prepared meals supplied through my health insurance plan. (Nothing like the meal I anticipated when I fell! But edible.) I needed to strengthen my leg muscles so I could walk again, first with an aluminum walker and then with a rollator walker. First inside and then outside as the weather permitted. 
Sharon sent me really cute and uplifting cards that made me remember that I was not alone. Bj came to visit me, a really welcome change in my now boring routine!

Lora and Dorsey checked on my progress by phone, also welcome interruptions from friends. Before Christmas Village cookie makers and deliverers brightened my pre-Christmas time with wonderful treats, which I immediately scarfed down. I had not had home-made cookies in ages! 

With the increased comfort with using my cane and moving safely around, Claire took me to Trader Joes to shop for groceries. I hadn’t been shopping myself for several months, so I was able to get the things I had neglected to request from my daughters. It was wonderful. Not just the shopping, but the getting out, the ability to do it! More recently Melva picked me up and I was able to ride with her to Triple Zips. Norma accompanied me on one walk with me and agreed to walk with me more frequently around the South Pasadena area.

Recovery so far has taken 6 months. My doctor said 6-12 months until I’m better than I was prior to my fall. That’s the goal I’m working on. The past months of limited activity with infrequent breaks in routine, have been lightened by the cards, phone calls and visits. They may sound like inconsequential events but were a great joy to my stuck self. Thank you again for all your kind attention. I am eager to pass it on! 

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