As a single senior living alone, what frightens you the most and how do you cope with that fear?

I'm surprised that there isn't a service that contacts seniors once or more a day. If no answer the service has the number(s) of the people to call on the customer's behalf, at the very least local authorities.
In Maricopa county AZ the Sheriff's office runs the R.U.O.K. program. You sign up and they call you every day at the time that you specify. If you don't answer, someone is dispatched to find out why.
 

A few years ago two elderly and independent widows lived nearby (one next door, the other behind). I "suggested" that they open their curtains or blinds in the morning so I will know they are OK. Their sons/daughters thought this was an excellent idea.
That was how our family found out that my grandma was very sick. Mrs. Jones loved grandma and had been good neighbors for many years. So she called my uncle and off to the hospital with grandma, she had cancer. The dr assured us that her kind of cancer would not be terribly painful, so glad to hear that! Lost her within the year, she was 85.
 
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The thing I fear is not being competent enough to take care of myself. To make a long story short, medication cause internal bleeding which led to me becoming infected. I was hallucinating. People on TV had "fish hands" and weird coloring. I took my bedroom apart, because I heard ticking coming from inside my mattress And I had no idea this was happening to me. It was only when I got too weak to get off the couch that it dawned on me something wasn't right.
 
I have, and totally recommend "Snug", it's basic check-in service is free. But if you want a human to call you to check up, there is a fee. My "Nextdoor.com" is lost pets, and "suspicious" cars seen. Lots of ads for home services-landscaping-home repairs, etc. Nextdoor.com requires other members to act- and there's no guarantee that they will.
 
I worry about falling and breaking something. 50% of people over 65 who fall and break their hip are dead within 12 months.

What do I do?

  1. Exercise, including practice balancing,
  2. eat more real foods that provide muscle and bone building nutrients
  3. bought the cheapest Apple Watch I could find that has the Fall Alert built into it
  4. asked a few friends to be on my emergency call list for the above Apple Watch
  5. I got rid of all sorts of rugs, cords and other junk that I might trip over.
FYI, the watch's emergency calling can also be triggered by me at any time by pushing a few buttons. The wearer doesn't have to fall.
 
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In Maricopa county AZ the Sheriff's office runs the R.U.O.K. program. You sign up and they call you every day at the time that you specify. If you don't answer, someone is dispatched to find out why.
We did that with my MIL when I was married. If she did not call and leave a message by dinner time, we called her. No answser? We drove over to her place which fortunately was nearby
 
I worry about my dogs if something happens to me.
Me too. I have a precious 14-year old Yorkie female, Lexi. I used to walk her all the time & we both loved it. At this point, I have some chronic medical problems and haven't been able to walk her for months but I do take her for rides...helps but not the same. I am blessed to have a friend who has cared for her when I'm hospitalized. They are good loving people who have a Bischon, Buffy. They get along wonderfully & both are about the same age. They will take loving care of her when I'm gone. However, I do worry about dying at home & Lexi terrified and alone for hours or days...that would be heart-breaking!
 
A few years ago a lady who lived here fell in her apartment. She actually had a stroke. She was awake and laid on the floor for about 3 days before two guys who live here forced her door open to find her. At first everyone though she had gone away with her daughter which was not unusual. By the third day, they just broke into her apartment. She was someone who appeared to be in good health. Had no trouble doing anything so nobody suspected something had happened to her.

I have someone who calls me every morning and if he did not get a hold of me he would be here to check. Also the lady across the hall has a key to my apartment if anyone was worried about not seeing me.
 
"Help, I've fallen and I can't get up" about covers it, or if I died suddenly and left an unpleasant corpse behind to be discovered much later.
Up until about a year ago, altogether I've tripped and fallen 3 times but got myself up. Carpet trip, I fell flat on my fat stomach first, which cushioned my fall, prevented injury. Second trip on a carpet, as I went down, I pushed with my right foot and propelled myself safely into my couch. No injury. Last fall when I tripped and fell, I blurted out, God help me! louder than I thought--I meant God help me get up by myself. (I was wearing only a flimsy P J top.) Neighbor upstairs heard me, didn't know I was able to get myself up, called Landlord who arrived in a hurry, (to my embarrassment, I was in the bathroom when he came in.) Convinced him I was fine & he left. If I ever fall again, I'll keep my mouth shut. :)
 
I had a dear friend who passed away last year. She was fitted with her second pacemaker and was enjoying life near her family. One morning her neighbour informed my friend's daughter that her mother hadn't been seen for a few hours. The daughter went around to check up on her mother to find her dead on the floor next to the bed. The police were called and the doctor also. They thought she had got out of bed to cool down as it was an extremely hot night. She had a wet facecloth around the back of her neck, probably trying to cool down and her Vital Call, which was for emergencies was under her pillow., she probably couldn't have reached it.
 
A few years ago a lady who lived here fell in her apartment. She actually had a stroke. She was awake and laid on the floor for about 3 days before two guys who live here forced her door open to find her. At first everyone though she had gone away with her daughter which was not unusual. By the third day, they just broke into her apartment. She was someone who appeared to be in good health. Had no trouble doing anything so nobody suspected something had happened to her.

I have someone who calls me every morning and if he did not get a hold of me he would be here to check. Also the lady across the hall has a key to my apartment if anyone was worried about not seeing me.
Good for you Katlupe: I also phone someone every morning at 8:00 AM. If the lady does not answer my text, I wait until 10:00 AM and then give her a "real" phone call. If she still does not answer, I jump in my car and drive across the city (1/2 hour) to her place to see what is happening.

Wonderful idea; keep up the good work.
 
I've already posted in here but I wanted to point this out. When showering I've been using a nice soap but it's spendy so I bought Dove soap bars. I've noticed that when I use Dove it dissolves too quickly making the floor of my shower slippery. Anything at any time - however random - could affect me.
 
I've already posted in here but I wanted to point this out. When showering I've been using a nice soap but it's spendy so I bought Dove soap bars. I've noticed that when I use Dove it dissolves too quickly making the floor of my shower slippery. Anything at any time - however random - could affect me.
I'm a big fan of Dove soap but I must admit that you're right about that: it does dissolve too fast.
 
I've already posted in here but I wanted to point this out. When showering I've been using a nice soap but it's spendy so I bought Dove soap bars. I've noticed that when I use Dove it dissolves too quickly making the floor of my shower slippery. Anything at any time - however random - could affect me.
This is true. So what is the practical answer? Maybe a less lathery soap.
I have a bath first, then only a final rinse in the shower.
 

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