Alone in an Emergency

TabbyAnn

TabbyAnn

Southern Indiana, U.S.A.
Location
Southern Indiana USA
When I retired I purchased a small home and spent most of my time maintaining the house and
yard and socializing with my only relative in this area and one casual friend. That worked out fine
until a recent accident at home and I was incapacitated for several weeks and couldn't drive. My
one friend in the area was out of the state at the time and my one relative was involved with her
spouse requiring hospitalization and treatment and I found myself quite alone with no one to call
on for help. I now know I need to expand my social life and I wish there was a section of the forum
for people in the same regions to communicate with each other.
 

Join a local church, senior citizens organization, etc... Try to think in terms of what you have to offer as opposed to what you have to gain when meeting new people.

Also, I would spend some time looking at ways that you can take care of yourself. Check into and start experimenting with things like UBER, home delivery of groceries and other essentials, cleaning people, meals on wheels, etc...

Good luck!
 
Aunt Bea said:
Join a local church, senior citizens organization, etc... Try to think in terms of what you have to offer as opposed to what you have to gain when meeting new people.

Also, I would spend some time looking at ways that you can take care of yourself. Check into and start experimenting with things like UBER, home delivery of groceries and other essentials, cleaning people, meals on wheels, etc...

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Exactly this.
 
Yes... gotta be tough! I moved to a rural area of WV not knowing anyone. No friends, relatives nearby, etc. Fortunately I am very outgoing and nosy...<g>... First thing I did was to walk around and meet all my neighbors, introduce myself, and tell them if they ever needed anything: "Here's my phone number." That has reaped many rewards; not the least being they have needed some help which I could provide.

In your situation...? Not sure...? Are you able to bake a cake or something and invite neighbors over...? You would probably offer coffee and tea. I've found that a beer does magic...<g>..!
 
Still thinking about you... Are you church-going? That's always a good place to start. Bingo Fan? Seems there are bingo games at every Volunteer Fire Dept. Senior Centers nearby? If you are able, just get out there! If not, try the city-data site which may give you an idea of what's available.
 
More! Google "Indiana Senior Help" - There are many MANY organizations all over Indiana who may be able to help.
 
This must be a frightening prospect, and makes me glad I live in a caring community.

I am disabled and live alone but help is always at hand.

I have community alarm on a pendant and a press brings a voice response in seconds. If I don't respond one of two local "first responders" will be at the door within minutes. Both will be able to gain access.

If they can't make it (they're just local volunteers going about their own lives) a professional care worker will be sent, who will a'so have the combination to get in.

If I can open the front door I only need to leave it open. I know from not weather experience that some passing person, maybe a nurse, social worker, police officer or concerned stranger will soon be there, if only to tell me of the folly of my action!

Churchgoing has been mentioned. I have never been in the local church but I know from others that at lest two members of the congregation keep an eye on my curtains and lights to ensure they are "as per" the time or season! Some people who profess to be Christians actually are!

Of course if all else fails I can use my smart speaker to contact anyone on my contacts list, Social Care, Royal Voluntary Service, the Blind Society (I am visually impaired) Help the Aged and so on.

i'm officially classed as "vulnerable" but I don't feel it!
 
Yeah, being alone in an emergency is an ever present concern where we are.

A few months after moving to the cabin, my wife became friends with a lady a few miles down the path.
While she hiked over to her place, I managed to run a saw over my hand.
It was a mindless thing.

I’d gotten into a rhythm of cutting and moving wood.

I don’t have rhythm.

klmnV6G.jpg



Fortunately, the blade was just wind milling, or I’d have a permanent Vulcan salute.

Anyway, spurting blood everywhere.
All I could do is put pressure on it and hold it above my head.
This involved my other hand.
Not much else to do when two hands are busy.

Happily, the bleeding stopped and I went back to work.

But, yeah, it’s a constant concern here.
 
Gary......We ARE kindred spirits indeed....A while ago Sue sent me to get her scissors. Well, while on the way to deliver them I stumbled and the scissors left my hand....And, in what seemed to be slow motion, headed up in the air....Now, one would think one with any intelligence would let the scissors fall....Not me...I tried to catch them. Why? No idea. Anyway, they came down and hit me in the thumb, severing a small artery and the result was a trip to emergency as couldn't stop the bleeding....Not as ghastly as your rather gruesome looking cut but, hey, it hurt....
 
My husband had this experience, Gary. Took the safety cover off the saw, lost half a finger and severely damaged two others. You have to be careful around saws as you both now know.
 
Aneeda72 said:
My husband had this experience, Gary. Took the safety cover off the saw, lost half a finger and severely damaged two others. You have to be careful around saws as you both now know.
Click to expand...

Heh, I knew before

This is where intellect comes into play
While making scrap wood shorter for the stove, my mind had drifted to considering changing my political affiliation, whether or not I had fed the squirrels, and on to complete nothingness

When it happened, I considered running down the road, screaming

Then gathered myself with the understanding that nobody was within miles and I don't have that much blood

so, just stood there, both hands above my head

Luckily, I clot up rather quickly, so my hands didn't have time to go to sleep on me



I've got this onion paper thin Irish skin, and bleed most ever time I do anything, or look at a tool


My lady no longer freaks when she sees me gushing

....unless I'm bleeding on her floor

(I'm sure my brother, moose, fully understands)
 
moosehead said:
Gary......We ARE kindred spirits indeed....A while ago Sue sent me to get her scissors. Well, while on the way to deliver them I stumbled and the scissors left my hand....And, in what seemed to be slow motion, headed up in the air....Now, one would think one with any intelligence would let the scissors fall....Not me...I tried to catch them. Why? No idea. Anyway, they came down and hit me in the thumb, severing a small artery and the result was a trip to emergency as couldn't stop the bleeding....Not as ghastly as your rather gruesome looking cut but, hey, it hurt....
Click to expand...

At least you weren't running

I've been known to stick my foot out to break the fall of a hatchet
 
Oh gawd!!!!:hide:
Yep! table saws are scary.
I can handle quite a bit of pain but to see blood and guts I’m a total wuss. I’ve almost passed out a couple of times cutting myself so would probably be useless if my man did anything too serious like Gary’s hand.
I’d be out!
 
Given the large circle of friends and family I have, not to mention clients who expect me at certain times of the day or week, there is seldom a situation in which my absence wouldn't be noticed for very long. I am typically on time to things, whether they're personal events or client appointments, and if I'm held up I will always call or text to explain why, so a prolonged absence or lateness would result in them calling ME to see if I'm OK, as has happened a time or two when I've either lost track of the time or been held up and so haven't called to explain why.

My personal concern is when I'm at a client's home by myself (which is most often the case) if something were to happen there. It would be some hours before the next client, or Ron, or one of my kids (depending on what's next on my schedule that day) would notice my lateness. If I fell down the stairs, or were stricken with a heart attack, or some other issue like that, who would know?

It's for that reason that my phone is on me all the time. I carry it wherever I am. I am also connected to it via bluetooth earbud so I don't even need to physically lay my hands on the phone if I urgently need to call someone. It's not a given that I'd be able to call someone if I were stricken, of course, but it gives me some security anyway.
 
Garry, yikes!

Tabby, one reason for living in a retirement community, as I do, is the situation you are describing. You can be as independent as you want, but if the time comes, you have easy access to medical and housekeeping help, social workers, friends and neighbors. They are part of your support system, and an ongoing part of your life, rather than last-minute options when you are desperate. Maybe research retirement communities in your area? They are all over the country.
 

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