[BlindTlk] You are a fall risk because you are blind

Sun Sep 3 15:49:20 UTC 2023

I think I explained the situation correctly; I was deemed a fall risk due
to blindness not due to my at the time, pending toe amputation. Of
course after the toe amputation I was deemed an even bigger fall risk.
Funnily enough the toe amputation itself did not affect my balance, just
the increased amount of pain from walking.

Just wanted to make it clear that it was my blindness which the insurance
deemed as a fall risk. I wouldn't doubt it they had received a few lawsuits
from blind individuals who happened to fall and decided to sue the hospital.

On Sat, Sep 2, 2023 at 3:45 PM Ericka via BlindTlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> Insurance companies are stupid and probably know nothing of blind folks.
> In your case it made sense. You’d have balance issues due to the surgery.
>
> Ericka Nelson
>
>
> > On Sep 2, 2023, at 11:22 AM, Laz via BlindTlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
> >
> > Actually it's not the fault of the doctors or nurses despite their
> > unawareness or not; it's an insurance thing. I found this out the last
> time
> > I was in the hospital a few years ago, having my toe amputated. The first
> > time I tried to use the bathroom, I found myself standing on a very
> bouncy
> > pad on the floor which covered quite a large area. I asked the nurses and
> > doctors about it and found out it was because the insurance company has
> > blind people on the list of fall risks and to cover their asses, the
> > hospital has to do whatever it takes to limit their liability
> > possibilities. They would not remove the pad. I told them that the pad
> > irself increased my risk of falling as it made me very unstable when
> trying
> > to walk, and they responded that I should just call the nurse if I needed
> > to use the bathroom and she would help me get there safely. I told them
> > that if I went down, there was no way she would be able to stop me and
> > would likely result in two people being at risk of falling. It didn't
> make
> > any difference. The pad remained and I just learned to balance on it even
> > after my toe had been amputated and I had to be very careful how I walked
> > to avoid hurting it.
> >
> > Laz
> >
> >> On Sat, Sep 2, 2023 at 12:07 PM Jody ianuzzi via BlindTlk <
> >> blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >>
> >> This is my point exactly. We were all lumped together in one category
> They
> >> never bother to get to know us as individuals I like the good old days
> when
> >> a doctor spent more time talking with you than they did entering
> >> information into the computer.
> >>
> >> JODY
> >>
> >> To Boldly Go  🖖🏻
> >>
> >>
> >> thunderwalker321 at gmail.com
> >>
> >> "What's within you is stronger than what's in your way."  NO BARRIERS
> >> Erik Weihenmayer
> >>
> >>> On Sep 2, 2023, at 11:55 AM, Jude DaShiell via BlindTlk <
> >> blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> In the southern states those hunting turkeys with shotguns get sent to
> >>> Lions World International to rehabilitate once they join the blind
> club.
> >>> These people have not yet adjusted to blindness and are at a higher
> fall
> >>> risk.  Some elderly people loose their sight and do not go through
> >>> adjustment to blindness programs and for as long as they're alive
> remain
> >> a
> >>> fall risk.  Medical and social workers having looked at you before
> >> reading
> >>> your chart react more toward safety for those in their care.  If the
> >>> information on your chart with regard to blindness isn't accurate for
> >>> whatever reason then even if those  workers look at your chart they'll
> >> not
> >>> be correctly informed either.  It wasn't until after 2013 and my
> >>> retirement I learned what really caused my blindness and that I had
> never
> >>> seen anything.  Doctors and parents earlier weren't completely truthful
> >>> with themselves or me which is why I learned the real diagnosis as late
> >> as
> >>> I did.  By the way, I was able to give that information to 23andme
> which
> >>> may help genetic research.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> -- Jude <jdashiel at panix dot com> "There are four boxes to be used in
> >>> defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that
> >>> order." Ed Howdershelt 1940.
> >>>
> >>>> On Sat, 2 Sep 2023, The Braille Cat via BlindTlk wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>> Man?? These folks with their total inability to think outside of the
> >> Box really make me tired! I mean it's not like we went blind five
> minutes
> >> ago now is it??
> >>>> Jack and Bex
> >>>>
> >>>> Sent from my iPod
> >>>>
> >>>> On Sep 2, 2023, at 8:58 AM, Pamela Dominguez via BlindTlk <
> >> blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>> 
> >>>> It might be different now, but the last time I was hospitalized in
> >> 2012, I got up when I wanted to, and went and used the bathroom and
> >> whatever.  I didn’t even know they didn’t want me to until I was almost
> >> ready to go home.  But the reason I say it might be different now is, I
> go
> >> to see my doctor in a hospital-type setting, and I complained that the
> >> security guard didn’t want me to practically move, not to go out by
> myself
> >> to get my ride, not to come down from the other floor myself, not
> anything,
> >> and everybody I complained to said that he was doing the right thing,
> >> because he was looking out for my safety because I can’t see.
> >> Access-a-ride wants you outside ten minutes before the ride, and it
> didn’t
> >> matter what I said, he would not let me.  He said they had to come in
> and
> >> get me.  Pam.
> >>>>
> >>>> Sent from Mail for Windows
> >>>>
> >>>> From: Mama Otter via BlindTlk
> >>>> Sent: Friday, September 1, 2023 8:03 PM
> >>>> To: Judy Jones via BlindTlk
> >>>> Cc: Mama Otter
> >>>> Subject: Re: [BlindTlk] You are a fall risk because you are blind
> >>>>
> >>>> Hello. I can attest to this. I have also been totally blind since
> birth.
> >>>> I have been hospitalized 3 times this year and all 3 times was told I
> >>>> could not get out of bed by myself because I was blind and I was a big
> >>>> fall risk. This was infuriating and degrading to say the least. I
> >>>> complained to various doctors and nurses with no result. So it is
> >>>> definitely rampant among medical professionals which is wrong in my
> >>>> opinion. I do have balance issues but they are not related to my sight
> >>>> or lack thereof and I do know how to compensate for them and have not
> >>>> fallen ever in my home. And believe me with 2 cats underfoot there are
> >>>> enough fall risks.
> >>>>
> >>>> Charlotte
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> On 9/1/2023 6:35 PM, Judy Jones via BlindTlk wrote:
> >>>>> Hi, Jody,
> >>>>>
> >>>>> No, I haven't gotten that, at this point.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> In fact, the PT for my torn meniscus stated that blindness doesn't
> >> affect
> >>>>> my balance, as it has been a life-long condition, but thought I might
> >> have
> >>>>> something vistibular going on since I also have been in Covid
> >> long-haul.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> His respect for you should have run up a notch when you mentioned
> your
> >>>>> martial arts expertise hahahaha.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> It may either be time to shop for a new doc, or start him on an
> >> "education"
> >>>>> program.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Judy
> >>>>> sent from my Samsung Galaxy phone
> >>>>>
> >>>>> On Fri, Sep 1, 2023, 4:25 PM Jody ianuzzi via BlindTlk <
> >> blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> >>>>> wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>>> The last time I went to see my doctor he really made me angry. He
> >> told me
> >>>>>> that he was concerned that I might fall because of my visual
> >> impairment.  I
> >>>>>> said that if I just lost my site that there would be a period of
> >> adjustment
> >>>>>> where I would have to learn alternative techniques to be more
> >> confident.  I
> >>>>>> told him that I have  been blind my entire life  I had no more
> chance
> >> of
> >>>>>> falling than he did and that since I started learning the martial
> >> arts 52
> >>>>>> years ago, I could probably teach him how to fall without getting
> >> hurt!
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Since this happened I have relayed the story to many people have
> told
> >> me
> >>>>>> that they are also considered a fall risk by medical professionals.
> >> So is
> >>>>>> this a new protocol? Are we all incompetent at walking without
> having
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Since this happened I have relayed the story to many people who have
> >> told
> >>>>>> me that they are also considered a fall risk by medical
> >> professionals. So
> >>>>>> is this a new protocol? Are we all incompetent at walking without
> >> having to
> >>>>>> worry about falling?  I think it is so much of a coincidence that I
> >> have
> >>>>>> heard the story from many places around the country. I think I think
> >> we
> >>>>>> really have to educate the medical profession as well as everyone
> >> else!
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> JODY
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> To Boldly Go  🖖🏻
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> thunderwalker321 at gmail.com
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> "What's within you is stronger than what's in your way."  NO
> BARRIERS
> >>>>>> Erik Weihenmayer
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> On Sep 1, 2023, at 6:55 PM, Raul Gallegos - NAGDU via BlindTlk <
> >>>>>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >>>>>>> Hello Mark. That’s a new one for sure.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> On a different but slightly related note, I went on a cruise
> earlier
> >>>>>> this year.
> >>>>>>> Upon my re-entry back onboard the ship after indulging a nice and
> >> long
> >>>>>> day of sun and adult beverages, the security folks wanted to check
> my
> >> cane
> >>>>>> before letting me on the ship. I politely declined and told the nice
> >>>>>> security person that my cane posed no threat and that I could just
> >> walk
> >>>>>> through the gate and that I have done this many times. He was rather
> >>>>>> insistent, however. So, the compromise was to let me walk through,
> >> then
> >>>>>> they would check the cane anyway. Considering I was tired, and a
> >> little,
> >>>>>> well, happy, and I didn’t want my good mood to be ruined, I let the
> >>>>>> security folks check my cane after I walked through. Here is where
> the
> >>>>>> funny part comes in.
> >>>>>>> As I am standing in front of the nice security person while my cane
> >> is
> >>>>>> getting checked for contraband, he puts his hands under mine and
> >> tells me
> >>>>>> that it is all going to be okay, and I can just lean forward on him,
> >> and he
> >>>>>> will make sure I do not fall. I instantly figured out that he
> honestly
> >>>>>> thought my cane was for balance, not guiding. Instead of educating
> him
> >>>>>> further, I grabbed his hands and started dancing with him. We
> twirled
> >>>>>> around a few times, and as we danced, I educated him that my balance
> >> was
> >>>>>> better than fine, and that my cane made a great dance partner when
> my
> >> wife
> >>>>>> was not around and when my cane wasn’t doing its real job of guiding
> >> me.
> >>>>>>> In the end, it was a funny time, and hopefully, this nice security
> >>>>>> cruise ship person received a little education in a positive way.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> --
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Raul Gallegos
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> From: nFB-Talk <nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Mark
> >> Tardif
> >>>>>> via nFB-Talk
> >>>>>>> Sent: Friday, September 1, 2023 5:25 PM
> >>>>>>> To: Blind Talk Mailing List <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> >>>>>>> Cc: Mark Tardif <markspark at roadrunner.com>; NFB of Florida
> Internet
> >>>>>> Mailing List <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>; NFB Talk Mailing List <
> >>>>>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> >>>>>>> Subject: [NFB-Talk] Strange Stuff
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Alright, friends.  I’m going to tell you something that will either
> >>>>>> leave you laughing or crying, and it is to demonstrate that no
> matter
> >> how
> >>>>>> well educated you are, if you are not familiar with blindness, well,
> >> you
> >>>>>> can still come across as, to put it politely, not the brightest
> light
> >> in
> >>>>>> the room.  The other day I saw a doctor I had never met before.  He
> >> had
> >>>>>> never spoken with someone who was born blind, and I suspect he had
> >> never
> >>>>>> spoken with any blind person.  Anyway, he saw my long white cane
> and,
> >> get
> >>>>>> this, asked if this was my “eye stick.”  Yes, that was the term he
> >> actually
> >>>>>> used, “eye stick.”  I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or to just moan
> >> with
> >>>>>> sadness, but one does need to remember manners in this situation, so
> >> I told
> >>>>>> him that we call it a long white cane and told him what it was for.
> >> He
> >>>>>> actually asked a number of good questions about blindness, which I
> >> thought
> >>>>>> was good, but it was clear that he needed much educating.  He seemed
> >>>>>> surprised I can actually walk around town independently.  I guess we
> >> have a
> >>>>>> lot of work to do, still, to put it mildly.  Also, I must say that
> >> while
> >>>>>> people up here are often extremely nice and courteous, they seem to
> >> pride
> >>>>>> themselves on being quite insular, even more than the rest of Maine,
> >> which
> >>>>>> is my state incidentally.  I say that because along with the term
> “eye
> >>>>>> stick,” I’ve often heard some very strange and, frankly, primitive
> >> ideas
> >>>>>> that I won’t actually go into here, but I do often think that holds
> >> us back
> >>>>>> in a lot of ways.  Anyway, I just thought I would share that bit of
> >>>>>> strangeness.
> >>>>>>> Mark Tardif
> >>>>>>> Nuclear arms will not hold you.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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> >>>>>>
> >>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/thunderwalker321%40gmail.com
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> >>>>>>
> >>
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> >>>>>>
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> >>>
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> >
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