Several weeks ago, when Elke Grimm, 85, slipped and fell on a hardwood floor at her home overlooking Fort Pond in Montauk, her major concern was not to frighten her great-granddaughter, Parker, who is 4. Parker was the only one with her that day.
The little girl told Mrs. Grimm, “I will help you, Oma,” (German for Grandma). She tried as hard as she could to help her great-grandmother up, but couldn’t. She then brought Mrs. Grimm her walker, both of them hoping she could hoist herself up with it, but she wasn’t able to.