Friends

30 August 2017

ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, WE HOPE


Remember Alex, the guy I didn’t recognise? Well I recognised him last time he came, with two others, to fit a new carpet in the bedroom. That’s it now, no more workmen (not even the handsome Alex) and no more jobs to be done – unless, of course, things break down. I can do with saving the pennies to spend on other things, like food!
Friend Judy and I sat down recently and worked out our future. Not together, of course, she lives in one house and I live in another, miles apart from each other. It was a necessary chat, she being 85 and me only 83. Nevertheless, we both face similar futures. We both live alone, both in bungalows, both being independent people, and both needing to think about our future. While we’re mentally active and can still drive it’s probably a good time to get morbid and think or plan ahead. But what is ahead? Worry? Frustration?
As already stated, Judy lives alone and like me she worries about her future. We discussed this at length recently, both of us worrying about what would happen if something awful happened and we (singly) couldn’t get help.
Both of us have remotely placed family members, too far away to be of any help
in an emergency. We both have neighbours but not the sort who pop in to see if we’re okay. We have alarm buttons on our persons which can be pressed in an emergency and help will come running, but what if we simply passed out before we could press the button. We could be lying in our respective houses for days (heaven forbid) without anyone knowing.
With all this in mind, and after discussing it with Judy, I decided to approach my neighbours with an idea. It was Alex who gave me the idea and I shall probably be grateful to him for evermore, even if I do forget what he looks like!
Last evening, I approached the neighbours, two ladies who are sisters, and put an idea to them, explaining all of the above. The question I put to them was ‘how about if I sent a text by phone, a one word message that just said ‘okay’ or ‘hello’ … a one word message that needed no reply, just sent to assure them that all was well. If they didn’t get such a message on another day they should come running to check that all was either well or not well.
I sent an email to Judy to tell her the plan was accepted with my neighbours and her response was ‘you are very brave’. I hope that doesn’t mean she will go on worrying without enlisting the help of her neighbour.

21 comments:

  1. Excellent idea, glad your neighbors agreed.

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  2. Yes, it's a good idea but I feel kind of strange whenever I sent a text that says 'okay' or 'good morning' or 'I'm wake'.

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  3. I think this is an excellent idea also, the buttons are good to have and some can even detect a fall but none can tell if you simply pass out where you are sitting, don't get me wrong they are good to have, but checking in with your neighbors every day is a very good thing.

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  4. That is a great idea Valerie. Good for you!

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  5. I know exactly what you are saying. I don't know my neighbors well enough to do that. Now that DH is working from home, I only worry that I might be laying there until he comes home, but any time, he could be sent on a job where he's gone for weeks at a time - That's scary! I'm glad you have a solution!

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  6. Good idea for early a.m. check ins or those throughout the day. But, my mother went outside one night for some reason, she fell, and could have laid there until she froze to death. She had her pendant and was rescued. I'd do a double, with phone and pendant.

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  7. Ooooo...what a FANTASTIC idea you had, Valerie! And it just goes to show how beneficial technology (such as the Internet, smart phones, and texting) can be for things such as this. Years and years ago (when my grandparents were still alive), this kind of "instant connecting" was not available; therefore you worried constantly if they were in need of any help, should anything happened.

    Glad to hear that your neighbors agreed to do this for you. What nice people they are!

    And also, glad to hear that all your jobs around the house are completed.

    Have a great rest of your week, my friend!
    X

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  8. Ron. Things are certainly different now. Yet grandparents managed somehow and family too. It's only now that understand their difficulties. Sometimes I don't appreciate the internet enough. Of course, the day will come when I don't have access but I guess I'll be past caring then lol.

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  9. Hi Susan, I am grateful for my pendant (I call it a button) - it is reasuring, to say the least.

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  10. Hi Sharon. My neighbours have only recently moved in, well a year ago - it took me that long to get to know them. Perhaps the idea should be broadcast so that others can do the same.

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  11. Hi Denise, Yes, thanks to Alex who thought of it.

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  12. Thanks, Toni, and thanks for popping in to my blog. Nice to meet you.

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  13. Hi Jimmy. Having both neighbours and button gives me peace of mind so I am grateful to the guy who thought of it.

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  14. That was a great idea for neighbors to keep in contact, kudos to Alex for the suggestion and to you for putting it into action. Hope this puts your mind more at ease, Valerie.

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  15. That is a really good idea, Valerie. Simple but effective. Alex is a clever fellow.

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  16. Great idea, Val, and glad to hear it because I definitely want someone looking out for you in case of trouble. Take care, dear friend.

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  17. Beatrice. My situation was beginning to worry me but it is more peaceful now.

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  18. Hi Jenny, yes the idea Alex had was so good it should be patented. I am broadcasting it in the hope that it helps others.

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  19. Mr Shife, thank you - you are so sweet. I promise to take good care.

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