Living Alone, Dying Alone?

[Jennykenny]

I can’t be the only person, (am in my late sixties and fairly healthy), who lives alone and worries about having a heart attack or a stroke and not being able to summon help.
I know that sounds very negative and depressing, but it is a possibility. I am lucky to have a number of good friends but we tend to meet up sporadically, so they would not necessarily miss me for some time.
Am I too young to consider getting a personal alarm and a key safe?? Any alternative options?

[AuntLydia]

jenny you are not too young for a personal alarm and if I lived alone it would be one of the first things I bought.

[AuntLydia]

Lovely. I bet that brings great comfort to jenny....

[Baldric]

We're ok for the moment, we have a house full of people, but it is a concern for the future that's for sure. Guess we'll work it out.

[sandyRoe]

I wouldn't want to inflict that on anyone. I'd really like to go walking a camino somewhere in Spain.
But if I do die at home how could i avoid subjecting whoever found me to the horrors you mentioned,?

[Tilly2]

Ask your neighbours to look out for you, Sandy.

[Jennykenny]

Thanks everyone.
Lots of really good advice, and you have convinced me to get the alarm.
I had one when my husband was alive. He was an invalid, and it meant that if I was out for a few hours, I could relax knowing that he could summon help immediately.
It wasn’t that expensive, if anyone else is interested. After the set up, about £4.00 - £5.00 a week.
The chap that came to set it up, which included a heavy duty fire alarm, said that he was surprised at how many people said it was too expensive, but had a large load of spirits on the sideboard. I suppose it depends on your priorities.

[retrocop]

Leave a note on the front door,
Milkman: If your last delivery is still here. Call the Garda
If my curtains are drawn during daylight hours. Call the Garda
If my curtains are open during night hours and the lights are on call the Garda
Talk to your nephews and arrange a daily short telephone contact call.

[Old_Geezer]

Beware. I brlieve only one make of keysafe is considered sufficiently safe for insurance companies.

One can get lockets/wristbands that allow you to summon help. Unsure if you need a specific medical condition. See what your council offers.

[silliemillie]

I also think a key safe screams 'a vulnerable person lives here' a magnet for con men.

[david small]

The only certainty’s are Death and Taxes. Makes sense to prepare a sensible response.

[rowanwitch]

A friend has a set of keys and if she hasn't seen me on Facebook by early evening she texts me. I won't have a keysafe as the local idiots think it is fun to take a sledgehammer to them and wreck them. They are all on the wall outside the block.
It's a hard choice really and you have to do what feels right for you.

[Jennykenny]

Old-G, do you know the name of the ‘safe’ make of key safe?
Thanks.

[237SJ]

I don't know about insurance companies but my Mum had a Supra C500 and it was police accredited.

[alavahalf]

Jenny I have fitted in excess of 2000 of them for Social Services, Charities and mainly individuals.
Insurance companies as far as I'm aware, have very little to say about them. As a rule they are pretty safe providing you fit the best one available ..

https://keysafe.co.uk/products/key-safes/c500-keysafe.html?ppc_keyword=&gclid=CjwKCAjwxILdBRBqEiwAHL2R89OuwzJuvxcuPMVMdb9Biv3CKUdP4IAbpEeOcWbzlz96CdAU2RxypxoCR8gQAvD_BwE

Faced with breaking into most houses I can assure you that if a key safe is present and I have been asked to get in by any means .. I will open the front door much easier than I can open the keysafe.
Bearing in mind that whoever comes prepared to force entry will have more chance of getting in.

[Old_Geezer]

The Supra C500 Key Safe IIRC

[Old_Geezer]

There are videos of it on YouTube.

[237SJ]

So says the two posts above ^