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Post by vpohlman on Jun 25, 2018 19:14:22 GMT
My 25 year old son and I both sorry about thjs, so I text him every morning before we both go to work. He lives about 60 miles away. If I don't hear from him I will call, and vice versa. Works for us! DH is a railroader so he's gone 2 days at a time.
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LeaP
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,939
Location: Los Angeles, CA where 405 meets 101
Jun 26, 2014 23:17:22 GMT
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Post by LeaP on Jun 25, 2018 19:15:57 GMT
Introduce yourself to your neighbors. I keep an eye on my elderly neighbor. If I don't see the blinds move by 1pm I call her.
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Post by pennyscraps on Jun 25, 2018 19:26:49 GMT
I like the idea of an Apple watch for you - or a watch that you could call from - if you were incapacitated and unable to reach the phone.
My dad died in January and we are now dealing with this with my mom. She has an iPhone and I use Apple's FIND MY FRIENDS App with her. That way I can "see" where she is for starters if she isn't answering her phone. She has lived in the same town I grew up in, and I know if I thought something was wrong with her that I could dispatch several people from my hometown to check on her.
If you are super remote, the mailman might be a good reference for you.
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QueenoftheSloths
Drama Llama
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Member Since January 2004, 2,698 forum posts PeaNut Number: 122614 PeaBoard Title: StuckOnPeas
Posts: 5,955
Jun 26, 2014 0:29:24 GMT
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Post by QueenoftheSloths on Jun 25, 2018 19:59:32 GMT
If all else fails find a hot young guy who needs a place to live and rent out a room to him. Make sure you write in the rental agreement that he must help with yard work and heavy lifting - preferably without his shirt. Then all the other women in the neighborhood will be visiting you constantly and you won’t have to worry about being alone anymore! This is definitely the most sensible advice on this thread. I will keep it in mind if I'm ever living alone in the future.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Jul 2, 2024 23:16:50 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2018 20:33:55 GMT
This fall I'm going to live alone for the very first time in my life, as my last child heads to college. What if I die? I'm not worried about someone eventually finding me, but my dogs!! I am worried about who will take care of my dogs. They'd be okay a day or two, but that's it. I have no family around me - for hundreds of miles. I have friends, but they wouldn't worry if they don't hear from me and work might worry after 3 days or so, but what if it were a Thursday night, for example? I don't go back into work until Tuesday. Even if they worried immediately, it'd be long, but they probably wouldn't worry that I wasn't there on Tuesday or Wednesday and it would likely be Thursday before anyone sounded an alarm. Do I really need to have some sort of system? I feel too young to have a system! I call my parents every evening between 5 and 6 pm even though they live 2 hours away. If I am going to be out, during that time I call to let them know I'll be late. If I don't contact them, they will call my across the street neighbor that I am friendly with, the co-workers who live fairly close and are willing to be points of contact and if all else fails the local police for a welfare check. Also, my work people know to call my parents if I don't show up for work without notifying them. So, yes, I have a system! It has been in place over 10 years now.. I was mid 40s and going through my divorce when it started. As my parents age I will transfer much of my contact to my sister or daughter. 24 hours would be the longest I would go without being checked on during a week end or holiday period. During the work week I'm in contact with someone every 12 hours roughly. I'll also call my parents if I'm going into my storm shelter. Then if I get locked in someway they can send help.
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Post by librarylady on Jun 25, 2018 20:33:58 GMT
I first lived alone when I was 26. I thought of "what if I am murdered and not found for days?" This was pre-cell phones or texting. I mentally thought of plans, but the plans always involved having to check in with someone daily. I finally just gave up and figured what "will be, will be."
My mother lived alone for a long time. On one visit, her phone rang 3 times and then nothing. Mom said that she had no idea who made the call, but someone was calling her at 10 AM daily, and would ring 3 times and hang up. She thought it was someone checking on her. I didn't point out that the call was useless since the person didn't wait to see if Mom answered.
I like the ideas others have of a 1 per day text to someone.
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Post by Really Red on Jun 25, 2018 20:35:50 GMT
If all else fails find a hot young guy who needs a place to live and rent out a room to him. Make sure you write in the rental agreement that he must help with yard work and heavy lifting - preferably without his shirt. Then all the other women in the neighborhood will be visiting you constantly and you won’t have to worry about being alone anymore! This is definitely the most sensible advice on this thread. I will keep it in mind if I'm ever living alone in the future. Also my favorite advice!! I do know all my neighbors, but we're past the day and age where papers piled up. I may say something to one of my neighbors and the mail lady, but I do go away a lot and sometimes my dog sitter forgets to pick up the mail. Don't want the word out if I'm alive and well with a mai tai in a hottub somewhere. p.s. Now I want a mai tai
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Post by katlaw on Jun 25, 2018 21:59:15 GMT
I just skimmed all of the responses so maybe someone has already shared this. Check out the Snug Safe appThere might be other ones out there as well, I have just heard about this one.
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Post by MsChiff on Jun 25, 2018 22:07:42 GMT
I have two friends; they both live alone and every morning they text each other good morning. Nothing long and involved, just a simple good morning so they know the other is ok. ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg) Perhaps you have a friend or family member that would do this with you. It would give you peace of mind.
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Post by librarylady on Jun 25, 2018 22:18:57 GMT
I just skimmed all of the responses so maybe someone has already shared this. Check out the Snug Safe appThere might be other ones out there as well, I have just heard about this one. Snug Safety is currently available for iPhone only. ☹
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Post by lauradrumm on Jun 25, 2018 22:26:32 GMT
I don't live alone, but my DH travels a lot for work and there have been a couple of times I have thought about this. Once was when my SiL became very ill with a brain infection, and it was only that my brother couldn't properly wake her before he left for work that saved her life. It occured to me that if something like this happened to me when DH was away, it could be several days before I was found. The other was one morning earleir this year when I woke up feeling extremely dizzy and nauseated - so much so that I couldn't get out of bed. Thankfully, DH was due home that night, so I managed to get myself to the bathroom and to get enough food to survive, but it could have been worse. There was no way I could have taken myself to the doctor in the condition I was in. Most of the time, I try not to worry and hope that my co-workers would do something if I didn't turn up without telling anyone. Never hesitate to call 911
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Post by Basket1lady on Jun 25, 2018 22:42:11 GMT
I don’t live alone, but DH is at work daily until at least 7 pm. Some days, he’s even later. And the kids are all off at college. I keep my cell on me pretty much 24/7.
As for your son, make an album in Photos of funny pics or memes. DD texts and calls a lot, but DS is Periscope Down most of the week. I’ll send little things here and there that let him know I’m thinking about him, but doesn’t require a big response from him.
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Post by Delta Dawn on Jun 25, 2018 22:45:13 GMT
My two local BFFs and my two distant ones check in with me every single day. One mainly checks in at night to make sure I am ok and the same with them. It's how we are and we like it that way. All my BFFs are friends on Facebook, too. They all love one another. I don't know how this happened, but it did and I am forever grateful! They check in on me so faithfully, but I do the same thing to them, too.
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Post by hop2 on Jun 25, 2018 22:47:08 GMT
This fall I'm going to live alone for the very first time in my life, as my last child heads to college. What if I die? I'm not worried about someone eventually finding me, but my dogs!! I am worried about who will take care of my dogs. They'd be okay a day or two, but that's it. I have no family around me - for hundreds of miles. I have friends, but they wouldn't worry if they don't hear from me and work might worry after 3 days or so, but what if it were a Thursday night, for example? I don't go back into work until Tuesday. Even if they worried immediately, it'd be long, but they probably wouldn't worry that I wasn't there on Tuesday or Wednesday and it would likely be Thursday before anyone sounded an alarm. Do I really need to have some sort of system? I feel too young to have a system! My kids check on me by phone if I don’t open thier snapchats same as I do if they don’t open theirs. Not a fool proof system but it has worked so far.
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Post by hop2 on Jun 25, 2018 22:54:44 GMT
For those still working, it's hard to imagine a work environment that wouldn't raise a flag of worry for someone missing 2 or 3 days work without an email or phone call in to their supervisor or someone else that will note you are out.
i work in the field, which means a different place every day it could be a week before my boss knew. Or it could be 10 seconds past my first appt depending on if the appt decides to call my boss or just forget it.
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Post by mom on Jun 25, 2018 22:55:20 GMT
I don’t live alone, but DH is at work daily until at least 7 pm. Some days, he’s even later. And the kids are all off at college. I keep my cell on my pretty much 24/7. As for your son, make an album in Photos if funny pics or memes. DD texts and calls a lot, but DS is Periscope Down most of the week. I’ll send little things here and there that let him know I’m thinking about him, but doesn’t require a big response from him. I do this as well. I have a whole Pinterest board just of things to send them that doesn’t require a response. DS1 tells me he likes that I send him stuff like this- some funny, some serious. Sometimes it’s news articles. Whatever I find that I think he will like.
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Post by hop2 on Jun 25, 2018 23:03:33 GMT
While my house is a revolving door of comings and goings, I do spend a lot of time on my own. I just spent the weekend alone without speaking to anyone but my mom. I’ve often wondered what I would do if I fell down the stairs and broke my leg or choked on a piece of meat. I don’t mind if it kills me instantly but I don’t want to lie on the floor writhing in pain for days on end. My only suggestion is don’t let your mind go there. The probability of something happening is slim. Chances are good your dogs would create quite a rumpus if you weren’t responding so someone would check that out. Can you ask your kiddos to check in on you via text once a day? Or you could get one of those “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” contraptions if you’re really worried. If all else fails find a hot young guy who needs a place to live and rent out a room to him. Make sure you write in the rental agreement that he must help with yard work and heavy lifting - preferably without his shirt. Then all the other women in the neighborhood will be visiting you constantly and you won’t have to worry about being alone anymore! Well then, I might need yet another room in that rental I’m looking for. Lol. My room, room for DS at summer break, room for DDs stuff & room for hot renter to lift stuff & feed dog if I’m dead. Any tips on the hot renter not being a bizarre weirdo like other peas have had?
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Post by Crack-a-lackin on Jun 25, 2018 23:14:28 GMT
Check out the Echo or similar items. One of the main reasons I got mine was so I could ask her to call my pre-programmed emergency numbers in case I fell. Now, this only works if you’re conscious and can speak, but at least it’s something.
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ellen
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,562
Jun 30, 2014 12:52:45 GMT
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Post by ellen on Jun 26, 2018 1:23:10 GMT
When I lived alone when I was first out of college I remember telling a few of my coworkers that if I ever didn't show up for work that something must be wrong. A young woman from my hometown who was just a few years older than me at that time had a severe brain bleed and was discovered by a friend who came by when she didn't answer her phone for a few hours. That kind of freaked me out because I didn't have family in the area and if it happened on a weekend, I would have just laid there dead until Monday.
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Post by Zee on Jun 26, 2018 1:25:28 GMT
Leave the toilet lid up
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Post by compeateropeator on Jun 26, 2018 1:43:46 GMT
I live alone but I think that someone would know pretty quickly if something happened to me. Between my family, my friends and work it wouldn't take long for someone to get worried if i hadn't made contact with anyone.
Work would be checking on me if I was more than an hour late without contacting someone. In my 16 years I have never called in sick or not came in. People would know that it would be very unusual. And there are two days a week that I work by myself so I would never not show up unless it was an emergency or something worse.
I talk to and/or see my best friend every day. I message or talk with various family members most every day or every two day at the very least . My best friend as well as my parents and brother have a key to my condo and someone would be checking on me.
That is why I have kept a landline though. While cellphone coverage can sometimes be spotty at my condo, I more importantly wanted to have the safety net of knowing if I called 911 and could not talk they would have my address immediately. Things probably have changed now (and I should revisit this or at least look into it) but a few years ago it was still difficult to get an exact location if you called 911 using a cellphone.
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Post by Basket1lady on Jun 26, 2018 2:13:57 GMT
When I lived alone when I was first out of college I remember telling a few of my coworkers that if I ever didn't show up for work that something must be wrong. A young woman from my hometown who was just a few years older than me at that time had a severe brain bleed and was discovered by a friend who came by when she didn't answer her phone for a few hours. That kind of freaked me out because I didn't have family in the area and if it happened on a weekend, I would have just laid there dead until Monday. I was a senior in college, lived alone the year Jacob Wetterling disappeared, and lived in the same town. It made me aware that if something happened to me, no one would know where to start looking. When DH was deployed in our early marriage, and before we had kids, I'd leave notes on the kitchen counter if I went out of town, drove an hour away to the outlet mall, or did something out of my regular routine. This was long before cell phones and I wanted people to know where to start looking. Even the young can have health issues or disappear!
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sueg
Prolific Pea
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Post by sueg on Jun 26, 2018 5:08:49 GMT
I don't live alone, but my DH travels a lot for work and there have been a couple of times I have thought about this. Once was when my SiL became very ill with a brain infection, and it was only that my brother couldn't properly wake her before he left for work that saved her life. It occured to me that if something like this happened to me when DH was away, it could be several days before I was found. The other was one morning earleir this year when I woke up feeling extremely dizzy and nauseated - so much so that I couldn't get out of bed. Thankfully, DH was due home that night, so I managed to get myself to the bathroom and to get enough food to survive, but it could have been worse. There was no way I could have taken myself to the doctor in the condition I was in. Most of the time, I try not to worry and hope that my co-workers would do something if I didn't turn up without telling anyone. Never hesitate to call 911 I don't live in the US - we don't call 911 here! In my SiL's situation, she would have been unable to call her 911 equivalent (she's in Australia, no 911 there either!) as she was only semi-conscious. For me, calling emergency services would have been inappropriate - it was an illness, nothing life-threatening.
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Post by nlwilkins on Jun 26, 2018 6:35:25 GMT
There are services that will do calls, check up calls on a daily basis. Just do a Google search on -- Daily Check Up Call Services.
One even listed the price as $15 a month. Some even list medication reminder.
This is what I would do if I lived alone. We had a neighbor down the street who died at home and she was not found for about two weeks. Then a beloved neighbor behind us fell in her bathtub and was not able to get out. Her out of town son finally sent a friend to check up on her and he had to break in to find her. The police were no help. They only reported that they heard someone yelling inside but would not do anything about it. She was only undiscovered for one night and half the next day, but that was too long. She broke her back and had to go into the hospital and then to rehab. She was never allowed to come home after but went straight to an assisted living home.
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hannahruth
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,644
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Aug 29, 2014 18:57:20 GMT
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Post by hannahruth on Jun 26, 2018 6:55:25 GMT
Never hesitate to call 911 I don't live in the US - we don't call 911 here! In my SiL's situation, she would have been unable to call her 911 equivalent (she's in Australia, no 911 there either!) as she was only semi-conscious. For me, calling emergency services would have been inappropriate - it was an illness, nothing life-threatening. No we don't call 911 but we do call 000 and ask for Police, Fire or Ambulance in Australia.
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Post by gillyp on Jun 26, 2018 8:37:21 GMT
I rarely get any time alone and I relish it when I do and ask people to not contact me but this has been at the back of my mind for years, even more so since last year when I lost my sister.
She had been in the habit of texting our SIL almost every day at 10 am as a support line to her as our DB has leukaemia. However she also travelled extensively and would occasionally be late texting, none of her neighbours would have thought it unusual to not see her for weeks.
One day no text came. None the next day so SIL and DB started texting and ringing her with no reply. The second day they asked me to try and contact her. Unbeknownst to me, after asking me, they rang the police and when my DS rang her home, the phone was answered by a police officer. They had had to break in and found her dead on the bed.
My sister was in her 70s but looked after herself better than anyone of us siblings. Ate well, exercised etc etc. She’d just got back from a walking holiday! She was also very old fashioned and it had taken me and other family members years to get her to agree to a mobile phone incase she needed to contact one of us quickly. Being set in her ways, that mobile phone was turned off, in its box, in the bedside drawer; she only took it out and turned it on when she was going to text. I had said to her a few months earlier when she was visiting me that she needed to have it close at hand incase anything happened to her in her apartment and she could get help. She said that would never happen . . . We will never know if our sister could have been saved but if people decide to have a system in place it must be one that is easy and done regularly at the same time of day or there is no point in having one.
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Post by lauradrumm on Jun 26, 2018 8:52:33 GMT
Never hesitate to call 911 I don't live in the US - we don't call 911 here! In my SiL's situation, she would have been unable to call her 911 equivalent (she's in Australia, no 911 there either!) as she was only semi-conscious. For me, calling emergency services would have been inappropriate - it was an illness, nothing life-threatening. Don’t you have 999? I’m sorry you’re going through this.
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Post by AussieMeg on Jun 26, 2018 10:15:48 GMT
If I didn't turn up to work they would start calling me within an hour. If they couldn't get hold of me they would call my family.
Last week one of my colleagues wasn't at work so within one hour of his starting time my boss rang him but he didn't answer. She was just about to call HR to get his family's number but then I realised that he had emailed me to say he was sick and wasn't coming in. Oooops!
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sueg
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Post by sueg on Jun 26, 2018 10:51:35 GMT
I don't live in the US - we don't call 911 here! In my SiL's situation, she would have been unable to call her 911 equivalent (she's in Australia, no 911 there either!) as she was only semi-conscious. For me, calling emergency services would have been inappropriate - it was an illness, nothing life-threatening. Don’t you have 999? I’m sorry you’re going through this. 999 is the UK. Australia has 000. Germany, and most of mainland Europe has 112 and 110. But they are emergency numbers. My problem was NOT an emergency that needed me to call them - I ended up being fine after a few hours rest.
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sueg
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Posts: 8,183
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Post by sueg on Jun 26, 2018 10:53:25 GMT
I don't live in the US - we don't call 911 here! In my SiL's situation, she would have been unable to call her 911 equivalent (she's in Australia, no 911 there either!) as she was only semi-conscious. For me, calling emergency services would have been inappropriate - it was an illness, nothing life-threatening. No we don't call 911 but we do call 000 and ask for Police, Fire or Ambulance in Australia. I lived in Australia for 48 years and have called 000 on occasion. My point in this case is that my SiL would not have been capable pf doing this - she was semi-conscious when my brother woke up. If he had not called them, but had gone to work leaving her to 'sleep in', the outcome could have been tragic.
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