Fall-prevention Physio - for the (very) elderly

(a lady of approximately 92 years age and her dutiful, caringly dictatorial daughter-in-law)

I‘m a deputy dictator
to help her to remember
the exercises she’s been told to do,
(she says she really wants to do them, too,
though groaning – ‘It’s impossible
 – I’ll fall!’) – ‘no, not at all –
my arms are near
to catch – don’t fear!’

Hold the shelf, and
up you go
on tip-toe,
wait, then lower,
slowly, slower.

Next, toes lift,
and let them drift
down to the floor –
repeat once more;

this time, rise up slowly,
and quickly drop
but not a bumpy
crashing flop.

Feet flat and straight,
let go, hands down
(don’t frown):
1 second, 2 … wait
… 10 seconds gone –
hold on again,
well done, enough,
('Oh, that was really,
ever-so tough!').

Do the same,
with one foot in front    
and look to the left
– then back again.

Pretend to sit,
but hold the bar,
bend your back,
push your bottom out far,
and slowly rise.

Experts devise
appropriate regime,
and the effort investment
by this customer-team
brings a little
improvement
of movement,
stability,
safer balance,
mobility,
awhile.

[IP: therapy]