Antibiotics and steroids are cheap but they will not save you from an early demise except in specific circumstances. We used to respond to people who were on an incredible amount of these types of medications and they all died usually sooner than later.
Steroids basically turn your tissues into mush after a while. They decrease inflammation mostly by suppressing your immune system. Antibiotics tend to kill bacteria indiscriminately even the healthy bacteria you need in your gut.
The primary reason Ruth is hanging on is because of stubbornness and she has managed to keep fairly active and has managed to keep her weight under control even with a sedentary job. Her mom died at just 48 and her dad died at 71.
Broken ribs are bad news in an old person. They won’t heal quickly, and meanwhile breathing will be uncomfortable and coughing and sneezing will be agony.
The pain will interfere with her ability to sleep, and lack of sleep will create other issues.