How to get help in an emergency?

Why not get your shopping online....e.g. Tesco online shopping? I find them very useful. If you
make a fortnightly order, it will probably be more than 50 pound,so delivery is then free.

BlueBelle

DO NOT follow the advice of some saying ask locally or put it on the local page on fb This could be an open invitation to get into an older persons house If you need a key safe it needs to be kept quiet and only a very few trusted people to know about it

Madwoman, please follow Bluebell’s advice above and my previous message, please do not advertise on Facebook or any other social media it would make you very vulnerable. I’m sure you can contact Social services yourself and ask for an assessment. I did this for some elderly relatives and they were wonderful, providing all sorts of aids completely free. I also arranged through them to have a panic alarm. They should also be able to organise or refer you to a care company and organise a key safe.

here we have a womens group to which any woman can go. You go as much or as little as you like. I have made friends and acquaintances, but also we look out for each other. We get to know what is the norm for individuals and if someone was expected and had not told us that they would not be coming, someone would check it out. So if y ou have a couple of close friends, who live locally whom you trust, then we do the key lock or also give each other a key, which is kept somewhere safe and if you didnt see the other person for a couple of days or they miss a meeting you would check with the other person and find out what is going on. Having 3 of you in this group means that there are 2 of you looking out for 1 other and can share the efforts needed, and should 1 person also be ill or away then you always have one of the two people available. also do you have a lions emergency green and white message in a bottle . You fill in all the details on a form in capital letters, with your prescriptions, allergies or whatever. Then the form is put in the bottle with a green cross on it and stored inside the fridge in the door.shelf. So then you have a small label which is stuck on the outside of the fridge, and another one hear the main door. This means that in an emergency, such as you might be unconscious or cannot remember details in a difficult moment. You then have another label near the front door. So no one is going to be able to read your information casually. But all that information and next of kin and stuff the ambulance people are aware of this scheme, so will look in the fridge as a place to get important information, and can actually save your life if they now know what you may and may not take. It would be good to have such a scheme used by everyone, but it does give some peace of mind and help to find you the help you need.

Many thanks to you all for your suggestions

A very independent person, she gets her shopping on line once a week for groceries and the delivery person for A has become a friend as she pays a monthly subscription and delivery is then paid for so most days she receives a parcel, it was a new hot water bottle yesterday ready for this weekend cold snap

Presumably this is the home delivery person for Amazon/Amazon Prime?
It's a great service for anyone who can't get out to the shops.

But there could be security issues with local groups.
As Bluebell states above. Everyone needs to be wary.
Do not reveal personal information esp re vulnerability.
Even nice neighbours can be loose tongued.
And predators are always on the lookout gleaning information.

Local Community Groups on Facebook help supply information in my area. Certainly worth a try.

Not fair to count on neighbours. If someone is vulnerable and likely to be in need of help it's best contact local social services or medical practice. Subsequent paid for help might be required and more appropriate

BlueBelle

DO NOT follow the advice of some saying ask locally or put it on the local page on fb This could be an open invitation to get into an older persons house If you need a key safe it needs to be kept quiet and only a very few trusted people to know about it

Totally agree with this statement

OP could also contact her local police neighbourhood team who could advise on the security issues…

I’m also in same situation with health issues..no family living close by but fortunately have 2 sets of good nearby neighbours whom I’m grateful for 🙏

In this area social services, usually alerted by a doctor’s surgery, will send someone to assess your needs. My friend has been helped by them recently and they have installed a key safe and made improvements to her home to make her 150 year old cottage safer for her. She also has an emergency pendant for which she pays. A very independent person, she gets her shopping on line once a week for groceries and the delivery person for A has become a friend as she pays a monthly subscription and delivery is then paid for so most days she receives a parcel, it was a new hot water bottle yesterday ready for this weekend cold snap

Bluebelle Thank you I agree

Thank you

DO NOT follow the advice of some saying ask locally or put it on the local page on fb This could be an open invitation to get into an older persons house If you need a key safe it needs to be kept quiet and only a very few trusted people to know about it

I had a Keysafe fitted in 2018, and only one couple knows the code for it. It would be useless to me because my eyesight is so poor that I would not see the code.

Thank you

Yes I would only use trusted and checked people

I don't think it is wise for you to advertise privately , please don't do that . Go through a recognized agency . Social services or the age concern are your safest bet.Good luck.

Yes I will. Thank you

Thank you

I think your best bet is to talk to AgeUk in the first instance. They will signpost to all the relevant people.

Why not contact your local council and ask for Older People Social Services. Explain your situation and ask if they can send someone out to do an assessment. They are legally obliged to do this. Even if they cannot provide the help you need they should be able to give you some guidance as to where you can access help. Be careful about advertising privately as you must ensure that you have someone who is CRB checked.

Most care agencies will provide emergency cover.

No doubt at a (big) cost, but it might be worth checking them out, just in case.

I have a keypad on my back door. It can be double locked if necessary but quite a few friends have the code.

Age UK may be able to address specific concerns, too.

There was a user on here with pneumonia a few days ago, who was totally without help, and it was a real worry, and just terrible because she wanted someone to just look after her for a day or two, and to have some soup, bless her.

There really needs to be some sort of system in place, I think.

Thank you