Feather, please check back to let us know how your friend is doing, and if she got help. You are right to be concerned, and I know it is an extremely difficult place to be when the elderly refuse needed help.
feather, rush don't walk to the phone and call 911. I noticed in your profile the person in question has Alzheimer's/Dementia, and sometimes a person with those memory issues don't feel any pain, and if this person is really hurting, there must be some serious damage.
Bones will start to heal immediately so waiting too long might make the bone heal in an odd position, making it always painful, thus the bone might need to be re-broken and set correctly. Ouch.
Not only just Alzheimer's or other dementia. Sometimes it is just stubbornness. My husband fell a couple of years ago off a 24' ladder. I came home to blood all over the place. I told him I was calling 911. He said "No, don't call them." I just looked at him, picked up the phone and dialed. He had a concussion and bleeding in the brain. He still doesn't remember the entire week. Did she tell you why she isn't getting medical help? Maybe she thinks she is too tough. My mother would pull her own teeth. She was that tough. Didn't tell me until later. Maybe she doesn't think she can afford it. Who knows. Did she tell you why she wouldn't get medical help? Tell her you love her enough to say, " I am very concerned about you. Either go to the doctor or I am calling 911".
P.S. She will need the proper pain meds to recover, once diagnosed. Please get her help. Be sure you don't go so far as to get an accusation of elder abuse vs. elder neglect.
Omg, I cannot believe I am going to offer this as a possible viable solution, but here goes: Hide or remove all of the pain medications in the house temporarily. She will go to urgent care or call 911 herself. Rationale: In the long run, the injury needs diagnosis for proper treatment so you would not be helping her if she just lays there, unable to walk, taking pain meds for several months. Pain meds are not the cure. She might need physical therapy, or wraps with ace bandage. She needs to be able to keep moving, protect from muscle loss and blood clots, or this will be it for her.
Its in hers and your best interest to take her for medical attention. You will both be happier after she is treated. You don't want to be accused of neglect or worse. You're probably like me, afraid to offend her..for her safety, do it.
Follow Babalou's advice - it's good, and will allow the EMTs to feel her leg for broken bones. They can also tell by whether or not she can put pressure on it, and how she stands (or can't stand).
This is an emergency; if her leg or hip are broken, the fracture needs to be addressed medically, and immediately.
But don't let her draw you into agreeing with her refusal to go; she's only hurting and potentially harming herself on a long term basis by her obstinacy.
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Bones will start to heal immediately so waiting too long might make the bone heal in an odd position, making it always painful, thus the bone might need to be re-broken and set correctly. Ouch.
Does the family know? If none, calling APS might work, or NOT!
I will be right over with the cell phone, does an old flip phone take x-rays?
Be sure you don't go so far as to get an accusation of elder abuse vs. elder neglect.
Hide or remove all of the pain medications in the house temporarily.
She will go to urgent care or call 911 herself.
Rationale: In the long run, the injury needs diagnosis for proper treatment so you would not be helping her if she just lays there, unable to walk, taking pain meds for several months. Pain meds are not the cure. She might need physical therapy, or wraps with ace bandage. She needs to be able to keep moving, protect from muscle loss and blood clots, or this will be it for her.
This is an emergency; if her leg or hip are broken, the fracture needs to be addressed medically, and immediately.
But don't let her draw you into agreeing with her refusal to go; she's only hurting and potentially harming herself on a long term basis by her obstinacy.