An elderly woman who fell in the bathroom of her home waited for more than two days for help.
KILLEEN, TEXAS (February 2, 2010) — A Killeen, Texas woman in her late 60s who fell in the bathroom of her apartment Sunday waited for help for more than two days until police forced their way into the residence Tuesday in response to a call from the woman’s concerned landlord.
Click the image below to watch the KWTX News report.
“We forced entry into the residence and found her disabled in the bathroom,” Killeen police Sgt. Frank Plowick said.
When police found her at around 9 a.m. Tuesday, she was barely conscious and dehydrated.
“She lives here by herself,” Plowick said.
“No one actually knew that she was missing, or hadn’t been seen until the few people that communicate with her realized she hadn’t been seen since Sunday,” he said.
The landlord called police after the woman was late paying her rent for the first time.
She did not have a personal medical alert system, police said.
She was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.
Her name and information about her condition weren’t available Tuesday.
Belton Senior Center Director, Elaine Murray, said communication is vital to the safety and well being of elderly Central Texans.
“Have someone you can call that will check on you,” Murray said.
“You can also check on them. That way, it’s sort of a give and take. That is a way to protect yourself in your own home,” she said.
Murray stressed the importance of elderly people who live alone to keep in touch with people outside of their homes.
“Reach out,” she said.
“You’re going to need to let someone know you’re there by yourself, someone you trust,” she said.
– This article and video courtesy of reporter David Williams of TV Station KWTX of Waco, Texas.
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