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Some of you have some great ideas. I lived in a nice apartment complex a few years ago when I saw a hazmat team at the apartment across the parking lot. A woman in her late 30's, who had diabetes had died. Unfortunately she wasn't discovered for a few days and her 5 year old child was in the apartment with her all that time. (No father in the picture). We never saw anything about it on the news and couldn't understand why the child never tried to get help.
So sad when people die and nobody even realizes they have passed.
her 5 year old child was in the apartment with her all that time. (No father in the picture). We never saw anything about it on the news and couldn't understand why the child never tried to get help.
Children of that age, are somewhat independent, As long as there is food, the kid would go on for days just thinking Mommy is sleeping. The kid goes on with there life, Gets up, Eats, Watches TV, Goes to bed. Repeat.
There was a case in Atlanta a few years back both parents had died (Drug OD) , Two kids continued on there own for two or three weeks (Ages 6 and 10, If I remember), Until the school noticed the kids were starting to look very "unkempt" did anyone find out.
We moved 850 miles from my family and my wife's ALS started to really take hold.
My kids were worried if something happened to me........stroke,fall over dead.....their mother might go a long time w/o help as she could no longer speak or use her hands.
I knew nobody in the area as I was a recluse caring for her.
Here is what I thought up............every morning at 8:30 I would call my daughter's cell phone and it went to voice mail......she is at work
If by 9:30 I had not called, she would call.'
If I did not answer, she would call at 10:00
If no answer then, she had the # of our local police and she knew the location to inform where hidden house key was.
We never needed to use it, but it gave all of us peace of mind.
We moved 850 miles from my family and my wife's ALS started to really take hold.
My kids were worried if something happened to me........stroke,fall over dead.....their mother might go a long time w/o help as she could no longer speak or use her hands.
I knew nobody in the area as I was a recluse caring for her.
Here is what I thought up............every morning at 8:30 I would call my daughter's cell phone and it went to voice mail......she is at work
If by 9:30 I had not called, she would call.'
If I did not answer, she would call at 10:00
If no answer then, she had the # of our local police and she knew the location to inform where hidden house key was.
We never needed to use it, but it gave all of us peace of mind.
Sounds like an excellent arrangement. But I have no children. I suppose once I get really, really old (I am already just plain old) I could make similar arrangements with my sister or with a friend.
In Maricopa county AZ, you could sign up for the RUOK program. They would call you every day at the time you specified. If you did not answer they would come around to find out why. This program was literally a life saver for some folks.
I heard about this from friends who live in Phoenix.
There are companies that provide wellness check service (via phone) for a small monthly fee.
Also I've heard that Dept of Aging in some states/cities will do it.
Friend lives a senior building, They have Door Knob Hangers, One Side say "I'm OK" Other Side says "Checked"
Each day Other senior volunteers go thru each hallway.
If the Hanger does not say "I'm OK" (or is not out at all) they knock and check to see if your are OK, If its on the OK side, they turn it to "Checked", If in there round the next day is still on "Checked" they knock to see if you are ok.
Not for when someone dies, but there are alert systems that people can wear around their necks as a pendant that they can contact help if they're fall-prone, or immobile.
For my elderly father, (with his agreement) I installed one of the DIY internet "smart home" systems. I placed various motion and door sensors around his house. I then programmed the system to send me a text message under various conditions: no motion for X amount of time. No motion by a particular time of day. Motion in the bathroom which was not followed by motion in the hallway in X amount of time.... etc.
It worked very well for both of us. I could monitor him via my smartphone from anywhere. We also had the standard "push the button for help" system, but I wanted to also be able to detect if he was incapacitated or otherwise unable to push the button to summon assistance. It allowed him to remain in his home much longer than we thought would be possible.
Friend lives a senior building, They have Door Knob Hangers, One Side say "I'm OK" Other Side says "Checked"
Each day Other senior volunteers go thru each hallway.
If the Hanger does not say "I'm OK" (or is not out at all) they knock and check to see if your are OK, If its on the OK side, they turn it to "Checked", If in there round the next day is still on "Checked" they knock to see if you are ok.
Not for when someone dies, but there are alert systems that people can wear around their necks as a pendant that they can contact help if they're fall-prone, or immobile.
These and other similar products are "okay"....but if someone has a heart attack, stroke, or falls and loses consciousness they can't press the button.
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