sm
member
I am the weapon, the world my toolbox. - yours truly
There is some beautiful work being shared in this thread, and I am most appreciative of everyone sharing. I am learning a lot as well.
These aluminum canes, as one sees in the drug store, that are adjustable, are also tools.
No, they are not heavy, nor do they have character and soul.
I am not being disrespectful with what I am about to post.
Just sometimes life is what it is, and it flat hurts to have to share some realities.
1. We have an aging society, and will continue to .
Many of our older members of society do not do well with weight. Sad, still many just have aches, pains, and just cannot do what they once did. Weight is something that concerns them.
For some, having to use a cane, is a blow to self esteem. In my experience, ladies are more often "vain" about such things. They don't want to use a stupid cane, no matter if the cute young male doctor, held their hand and flashed that smile when they shared once again "risk for falls".
Men will do this, even if the cute young nurse held their hand and <sigh> once again that risk for falls bit.
Oh they were fine while the doctor/nurse adjusted the cane proper, but once outside, the feeling of "I am not as independent as I once was" kick in.
It flat hurts their feelings.
They will "rebel", and not use the cane. Some will "accidentally misplace it".
Others, will flat lose it.
They are not used to keeping up with it, so it gets hung on a shelf while looking at soup, and they walk off from it hanging on the shelf
Or they have it hung on a grocery buggy, and that buggy has a wobbly wheel and don't roll right, so they leave the cane on the buggy they started with and grab a buggy that rolls better.
"Ma'am/Sir, you left your cane..." really embarrasses them, when someone brings them that cane left on shelf, buggy, wherever.
Yes, this is a "training" matter, just, well, phooey!
These elder folks have lived life, and more of it, and they did not live this long being stupid.
No, they are one of our best natural resources.
When you get in your 70's, 80's, or older, see how damn well you do with ADLs (activities of daily living).
Damn world has changed and not for the better in many cases ...
2. Yes, these persons can effectively use a aluminum adjustable cane.
Keep it simple.
The reality is, you and me, are not going to run off and leave a elderly person to predators.
Bad guys know and plan on this.
So have communications, and practiced plans. Even if you have to "fuss" (with respect) at a elderly person with cane, or walker.
Hang tags for handicapped parking are best, for too many reasons already discussed.
Still one is the ability to use that hang tag on your vehicle if need when taking a person out with physical limits, that has a handicapped parking tag.
i.e. Their sedan will not carry a chair, or maybe a park bench they want on the back porch.
Use your truck, with their hang tag, and park in handicapped when you take them to check out and get that chair, park bench, whatever...
You have practice plans on all this.
Which includes having used their aluminum cane/walker to stop a threat.
If you are standing near them, or assisting them with vehicle door, or curb, the most handy, or accessible tool might be their $12 aluminum adjustable drug store cane.
3. Young folks, even kids.
There are times, when one is healthy and whole, the option of using a cane is a good one.
Restrictive areas, including court houses and others, with metal detectors.
For ladies, again, it is more difficult to get them to use a cane. Still if they have one in the trunk of the car, it is a tool.
I have "convinced" or "talked them into it" by suggesting having a pair of tennis shoes and wearing them with a dress, skirt, with that cane. I also suggest one of those elastic knee wraps.
This seems to help the mental mindset of them "needing to use" a cane, even if they are 21 years old and in fine shape.
A 11 year old with a elastic knee wrap, or even Ace bandage over jeans at knee with their cane works too.
Soccer, baseball, softball, basekeball, you name it and kids get hurt.
This allows a kid options, as it does with the adults they are with.
The ones I had, were the ones with the tilde handle ( ~ ). I had a black, "bronze" and regular aluminum one.
Yes I used these, and I also could loan one to anyone, male or female, of any size, including teens and kids.
i.e. Courthouse where metal detectors check to make sure there are no weapons.
Getting a birth certificate from a State Health Dept, and by law, one cannot have weapons in buildings.
One has to park "here" and walk to building.
Yes, I have had 30 year old gals fuss, still they used the loaner cane. It takes two seconds to adjust it.
I have also had an 11 year old fuss and then once we were done with business say "ya know, this is pretty neat, can I have one of these canes of my own?".
So....
You might want to pick up one of these aluminum, adjustable canes and wring it out. Yes, wring it out to the point you break it.
You need to know what it can, and cannot do, and how it holds up.
Then get another for backup, having in the vehicle, as a loaner.
Plus, if serious shows up, you have an idea of what one of these is capable of, as you have actually wrung one out.
There is some beautiful work being shared in this thread, and I am most appreciative of everyone sharing. I am learning a lot as well.
These aluminum canes, as one sees in the drug store, that are adjustable, are also tools.
No, they are not heavy, nor do they have character and soul.
I am not being disrespectful with what I am about to post.
Just sometimes life is what it is, and it flat hurts to have to share some realities.
1. We have an aging society, and will continue to .
Many of our older members of society do not do well with weight. Sad, still many just have aches, pains, and just cannot do what they once did. Weight is something that concerns them.
For some, having to use a cane, is a blow to self esteem. In my experience, ladies are more often "vain" about such things. They don't want to use a stupid cane, no matter if the cute young male doctor, held their hand and flashed that smile when they shared once again "risk for falls".
Men will do this, even if the cute young nurse held their hand and <sigh> once again that risk for falls bit.
Oh they were fine while the doctor/nurse adjusted the cane proper, but once outside, the feeling of "I am not as independent as I once was" kick in.
It flat hurts their feelings.
They will "rebel", and not use the cane. Some will "accidentally misplace it".
Others, will flat lose it.
They are not used to keeping up with it, so it gets hung on a shelf while looking at soup, and they walk off from it hanging on the shelf
Or they have it hung on a grocery buggy, and that buggy has a wobbly wheel and don't roll right, so they leave the cane on the buggy they started with and grab a buggy that rolls better.
"Ma'am/Sir, you left your cane..." really embarrasses them, when someone brings them that cane left on shelf, buggy, wherever.
Yes, this is a "training" matter, just, well, phooey!
These elder folks have lived life, and more of it, and they did not live this long being stupid.
No, they are one of our best natural resources.
When you get in your 70's, 80's, or older, see how damn well you do with ADLs (activities of daily living).
Damn world has changed and not for the better in many cases ...
2. Yes, these persons can effectively use a aluminum adjustable cane.
Keep it simple.
The reality is, you and me, are not going to run off and leave a elderly person to predators.
Bad guys know and plan on this.
So have communications, and practiced plans. Even if you have to "fuss" (with respect) at a elderly person with cane, or walker.
Hang tags for handicapped parking are best, for too many reasons already discussed.
Still one is the ability to use that hang tag on your vehicle if need when taking a person out with physical limits, that has a handicapped parking tag.
i.e. Their sedan will not carry a chair, or maybe a park bench they want on the back porch.
Use your truck, with their hang tag, and park in handicapped when you take them to check out and get that chair, park bench, whatever...
You have practice plans on all this.
Which includes having used their aluminum cane/walker to stop a threat.
If you are standing near them, or assisting them with vehicle door, or curb, the most handy, or accessible tool might be their $12 aluminum adjustable drug store cane.
3. Young folks, even kids.
There are times, when one is healthy and whole, the option of using a cane is a good one.
Restrictive areas, including court houses and others, with metal detectors.
For ladies, again, it is more difficult to get them to use a cane. Still if they have one in the trunk of the car, it is a tool.
I have "convinced" or "talked them into it" by suggesting having a pair of tennis shoes and wearing them with a dress, skirt, with that cane. I also suggest one of those elastic knee wraps.
This seems to help the mental mindset of them "needing to use" a cane, even if they are 21 years old and in fine shape.
A 11 year old with a elastic knee wrap, or even Ace bandage over jeans at knee with their cane works too.
Soccer, baseball, softball, basekeball, you name it and kids get hurt.
This allows a kid options, as it does with the adults they are with.
The ones I had, were the ones with the tilde handle ( ~ ). I had a black, "bronze" and regular aluminum one.
Yes I used these, and I also could loan one to anyone, male or female, of any size, including teens and kids.
i.e. Courthouse where metal detectors check to make sure there are no weapons.
Getting a birth certificate from a State Health Dept, and by law, one cannot have weapons in buildings.
One has to park "here" and walk to building.
Yes, I have had 30 year old gals fuss, still they used the loaner cane. It takes two seconds to adjust it.
I have also had an 11 year old fuss and then once we were done with business say "ya know, this is pretty neat, can I have one of these canes of my own?".
So....
You might want to pick up one of these aluminum, adjustable canes and wring it out. Yes, wring it out to the point you break it.
You need to know what it can, and cannot do, and how it holds up.
Then get another for backup, having in the vehicle, as a loaner.
Plus, if serious shows up, you have an idea of what one of these is capable of, as you have actually wrung one out.
