# Dying alone: what safety measures are feasible? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 29, 2018, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dying-alone-what-safety-measures-are-feasible/813292 "2018-04-29T03:36:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MonkeyCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@MonkeyCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyCat)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dying-alone-what-safety-measures-are-feasible/813292/21 "2018-04-30T00:49:06Z")
Keeping a phone on your person might solve it. If you’re having a stroke, you can call someone and regardless whether you make sense, you’ll scare their pants off and probably get some help. (And now I regret not reading the whole thread. Useless post. Sorry.) ---
**Author:** ![ASGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@ASGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dying-alone-what-safety-measures-are-feasible/813292/22 "2018-04-30T01:15:12Z")
There are companies that provide a daily “are you okay?” telephone call. I’ve investigated these and at some point will employ their services. If something goes awry the service provider will notify my [close by] family and we will go from there. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dying-alone-what-safety-measures-are-feasible/813292/23 "2018-04-30T06:44:57Z")
There are several stories of people in apartment buildings banging on waterpipes to attract attention. [https://www.google.nl/amp/s/gizmodo.com/5698987/old-lady-trapped-in-bathroom-for-3-weeks-irritated-neighbors-by-banging-on-pipes/amp](https://www.google.nl/amp/s/gizmodo.com/5698987/old-lady-trapped-in-bathroom-for-3-weeks-irritated-neighbors-by-banging-on-pipes/amp) But water pipes also make that sound on their own, so your neighbours may just get annoyed and call a plumber… [What causes the loud banging noise in my home's pipes? | HowStuffWorks](https://home.howstuffworks.com/question89.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dying-alone-what-safety-measures-are-feasible/813292/24 "2018-04-30T07:09:20Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > There’s a whole market of [selling alarm buttons to seniors.](http://www.firstresponsesystem.com/) But they run on batteries and are likely to malfunction without it being obvious. What a nightmare to lie there injured, to press that ugly alarm button around your neck, and have nothing happen, and not even know if it worked or not. Plus, these things are typically bought by worrying kids and then NOT worn by the senior, because they are ugly and remind the person in an unpleasant way about their age and their vulnerability. I wonder if anyone has ever done a comprehensive list of what sort of systems and protocols are available, or any research on which ones have proven most effective. The way people interact with technology is still evolving and I think there’s still room for a lot of creative approaches. I suspect that an active system, one that queries the person and needs an affirmative response, would be more effective than something like an alert button that needs to be pressed only when something has gone wrong. I had this happen to me once. I fell and hit my head. Didn’t think it was that bad, but when I woke up in the morning I was so dizzy that it was all I could do to get out of bed and crawl to the bathroom. My phone was downstairs, so that wasn’t gonna happen. I honestly can’t remember if work, or anyone else, called to check up on me. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dying-alone-what-safety-measures-are-feasible/813292/25 "2018-04-30T15:09:17Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > There’s a whole market of [selling alarm buttons to seniors.](http://www.firstresponsesystem.com/) But they run on batteries and are likely to malfunction without it being obvious. Where is this assertion of likely malfunction coming from? I have been researching these items for an elderly relative and have seen no suggestion that this is the case. By the way, Life Alert advertises that its batteries last ten years and do not need recharging, and I have again seen no suggestion that its representation is inaccurate. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dying-alone-what-safety-measures-are-feasible/813292/26 "2018-04-30T16:05:50Z")
I forget where I read this - it was an article somewhere, so may be distorted. But it said that in Japan you can buy a rice cooker that can be programmed to send an email notice whenever it’s used. You give it to your elderly relative, programmed with your email, and get an email once or twice a day. If the email doesn’t come, you check in directly, or indirectly through a neighbor or whatever your Plan B is. Most Americans don’t use a rice cooker every day, but I’m sure the basic idea could be adapted to a coffee maker. Two days after my dad had a heart attack, the restaurant where they ate breakfast every morning called to check, because they hadn’t said anything about going on a trip. Not quite soon enough to be a failsafe, but it was nice. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dying-alone-what-safety-measures-are-feasible/813292/27 "2018-04-30T16:24:18Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Where is this assertion of likely malfunction coming from? I have been researching these items for an elderly relative and have seen no suggestion that this is the case. > > By the way, Life Alert advertises that its batteries last ten years and do not need recharging, and I have again seen no suggestion that its representation is inaccurate. I agree with this. The battery never needs recharging. Plus, you check in with the service monthly, to verify it is working properly. The necklace does accidentally come off sometimes, though. My Dad wore one, and a few times while he was sleeping the fastener came loose, and he managed to press the button by rolling on it. We then super glued it together, and he never lost it again. He used it in an emergency a few times, too. It’s a lifesaver, and well worth the money, in my opinion. He has since passed on. RIP, Daddy. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dying-alone-what-safety-measures-are-feasible/813292/28 "2018-04-30T17:38:46Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > literally the week she retired (early) she started her bath & then had a stroke. Death always wins in the end. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dying-alone-what-safety-measures-are-feasible/813292/29 "2018-04-30T17:55:35Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > I forget where I read this - it was an article somewhere, so may be distorted. But it said that in Japan you can buy a rice cooker that can be programmed to send an email notice whenever it’s used. You give it to your elderly relative, programmed with your email, and get an email once or twice a day. If the email doesn’t come, you check in directly, or indirectly through a neighbor or whatever your Plan B is. > > Most Americans don’t use a rice cooker every day, but I’m sure the basic idea could be adapted to a coffee maker. I’m going to go with toilet flushing. That would be fairly universal in the US. Anyone interested in developing this, be my guest! I look forward to seeing you on Shark Tank. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dying-alone-what-safety-measures-are-feasible/813292/30 "2018-04-30T17:59:50Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > I’m going to go with toilet flushing. That would be fairly universal in the US. Anyone interested in developing this, be my guest! I look forward to seeing you on Shark Tank. Does it lock out for a certain time period? Not many people want to know _every_ time Mom or Dad flushes. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dying-alone-what-safety-measures-are-feasible/813292/31 "2018-04-30T18:12:52Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Does it lock out for a certain time period? Not many people want to know _every_ time Mom or Dad flushes. > > 😃 Nah, more like if the toilet doesn’t flush at least once in a 24 hour period (or time frame you choose!) the email/text gets sent. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dying-alone-what-safety-measures-are-feasible/813292/32 "2018-04-30T18:30:03Z")
I’d buy that, \*\*Icarus. \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dying-alone-what-safety-measures-are-feasible/813292/33 "2018-04-30T19:15:04Z")
One former employer told us that if we ever didn’t show up for work (without telling anyone) they would call us, and if we didn’t answer the phone they would send the police to our house. Some people bristled at that a little, but I found it sort of comforting in a “someone might find me before I start decomposing! yay!” way. I’m only 46, but am likely to keep living alone. When I wonder about what would happen if I were to seriously injure myself at home, my mind tends to go directly to “what about the dog??” I worry about her way more than myself. 🙂 After reading most of this thread I was thinking that Alexa/Google could be the answer, but then I read this: > [@Maastricht](#): > > Interesting idea. But with my luck, I’d be hurt on the floor, calling out Alexa to call 911, while Alexa keeps saying things like “Do you want me to rent the movie Ninowan?” Or: “Sorry, but you will have to enter your Apple ID password first”. I’d be dying AND annoyed to death. So true!! LOL! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dying-alone-what-safety-measures-are-feasible/813292/34 "2018-04-30T20:12:48Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Not many people want to know _every_ time Mom or Dad flushes. “Wait a minute – Dad’s flushing in Morse Code! S-O-S-O-U-T-O-F-T-O-I-L-E-T-P-A-P-E-R” ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dying-alone-what-safety-measures-are-feasible/813292/35 "2018-04-30T20:42:22Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > I’m going to go with toilet flushing. That would be fairly universal in the US. Anyone interested in developing this, be my guest! I look forward to seeing you on Shark Tank. That’s disgusting, and brilliant. Kudos. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dying-alone-what-safety-measures-are-feasible/813292/36 "2018-04-30T21:33:23Z")
I tell you what, this is beginning to really worry me. I am so accident prone. I live far away from any where. Cell service is spotty. We have upgraded our wi-fi recently. I would have to be with my tablet or desktop. My phone tends to float around the house. It could be any where in the house or car or lost ( happens regular-like). I think I am gonna get an apple watch or something, soon. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dying-alone-what-safety-measures-are-feasible/813292/37 "2018-04-30T21:49:00Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Are there that many elderly that don’t have email anymore? If you have Parkinson’s disease, are a stroke patient, someone with arthritic hands, vision problems, etc. using a computer can be extremely difficult or even impossible. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dying-alone-what-safety-measures-are-feasible/813292/38 "2018-04-30T22:25:09Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I tell you what, this is beginning to really worry me. I am so accident prone. I live far away from any where. Cell service is spotty. We have upgraded our wi-fi recently. I would have to be with my tablet or desktop. My phone tends to float around the house. It could be any where in the house or car or lost ( happens regular-like). I think I am gonna get an apple watch or something, soon. This thread made me buy a landline with three DECT handsets, one on each floor. And it’s convinced my friend to start a daily “are you okay”-phone ritual with his mom. Both to her benefit AND his own. Yes, he gives up a little privacy, and it is a bit cumbersome. But he sees a lot of benefits, too. Let’s just hope he and his mom don’t fall ill on the very same day. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2018, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dying-alone-what-safety-measures-are-feasible/813292/39 "2018-05-01T00:01:00Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > I’m going to go with toilet flushing. That would be fairly universal in the US. Anyone interested in developing this, be my guest! I look forward to seeing you on Shark Tank. Hmmm. Would this work? Depends. If you open a Kickstarter, let me know. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2018, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dying-alone-what-safety-measures-are-feasible/813292/40 "2018-05-01T03:37:12Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > As a woman without convenient pockets… it’s a bit cumbersome to have my phone on me or in my hands when I’m puttering about the house. For God’s sake! After reading this thread, at _least_ get some pockets! Or an alert device. And everyone, keep your phone within reach. I switched to an iPhone SE (same size as the old 5/5S/5c) so it’ll fit in my pocket. I’m almost to the point where it’s not annoying, and I’m working on it becoming an automatic habit. And I upgraded to iOS 11, so I can [call 911 with 5 taps to the power button](https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/emergency-sos-iphone-ios-11/). > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I fell and hit my head. Didn’t think it was that bad, but when I woke up in the morning I was so dizzy that it was all I could do to get out of bed and crawl to the bathroom. My phone was downstairs, so that wasn’t gonna happen… > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > My phone tends to float around the house. It could be any where in the house or car or lost ( happens regular-like)… > [@Baker](#): > > I live alone and I have no plan… It figures, dying alone and in pain. Everyone who feels this way, you are _choosing_ a tragic/painful/senseless fate. Please, choose to give yourself a fighting chance if something happens. This is no time to be stubborn or fatalistic. Make a plan, talk to friends and family (or the retired guys at your local diner…), and carry an alert device or your phone at all times. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dying-alone-what-safety-measures-are-feasible/813292.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dying-alone-what-safety-measures-are-feasible/813292.md?page=3)