Post 454. TALKING TO OLD FRIENDS

BRAVELY BATTLING FRAILTY.

WHAT CAN YOU SAY? 
Last Thursday I was on the phone to two old friends, one in England the other in Scotland,
In England, Jean's husband, old buddy Ian, recently had a fall at home, broke a leg, and has been shuffled from one hospital to another while the overstretched NHS tries to optimize the problem of the future for a brain cancer patient who walks with a frame and, if allowed back home now will, without the constant medical support he undoubtedly needs, be in dire risk of further falls and yet another round of hospital/hospital/where next?
Trouble seems to be, there is virtually no facility beyond that of a temporary recuperation unit. On Friday the family and Ian's medics met to discuss the situation: Ian (who had by then agreed with Jean and daughter Kerry that he really did need the full time ministrations of a care home) was present, and when asked where he wanted to go predictably replied: 'Home.' 
But home is not in any way suitable for him now. What can you say? It's a quandary.
From Scotland, Bill Harrison, a friend for seventy years, talked at me for about half an hour.
I know what to expect when I ring him. He is totally deaf in one ear and has about forty percent hearing in the other so you don't hold a conversation with him, you listen. He talks well about himself - always has - apart from national service in the Royal Signals he spent his entire working life in the police where, for some years, he was sergeant in charge of fingerprints, photographs, and scenes of crime for the whole of Lincolnshire. He was also a top class cricketer and played for the county force right up until. as an acting inspector, he finished up being medically discharged due to overwork. His wife died five years ago. Cancer. She didn't tell him until very late on. Again, what can you say? Nothing except how sad you were then and still are now.
Kath was a lovely person.
Well, he is managing. Has some good neighbours and, currently, a reliable lady who keeps a kindly eye on him. One can only hope his hearing impairment does not worsen to the point where he needs full time care.
Oh, I was going to print a picture of the young Bill in cricket gear, but I can't find it.
Getting older can sometimes be better imagined than experienced.