Looking for a friend

Have you done a poa? Written your will? Those would be my first things to do. If you don't have younger family, then see if your lawyer will be your poa. I don't think you can make friends in the hope or expectations they will look after you.

I don't think you'll find any friends here. I've been on here a couple of years now and haven't made a single one...

Grandmabatty, I think the OP was looking for a friend to help him find out how to get care. (Not looking for a friend to give care). You do give good advice for getting legal papers in order by consulting with a lawyer but are their other entities that help elderly navigate through the options of care available?

Maybe someone else can recommend some agencies that offer help? I am sorry I am not familiar with these agencies. Someone else might have more info for you, BarryG1. Hang in there!

Age Concern have a free advice line, they can possibly point you in the right direction.

Keepingquite that’s you! there are some lovely people (who become friends) on GN
68 is very young to be worrying so do you have illness or disabilities Barry I m not sure what you are looking for
Information ….Age concern, social services, liberties have lists of help for various things
Introverts still can have friends and hobbies to keep them
interested which keeps you young
I m not an introvert and still very much in life and doing …although a lot older but these are the things I ve set up
POA both heath and financial
Cremation Organised and paid for
All necessary paperwork in a fireproof case in a place known by executor
Views on possible necessary help known, ie care home or care in my home
Do you have children, siblings, or other relations you have contact with ?

Ah, I maybe have misunderstood. Sorry Barry, as someone else said, contact age concern who might be able to help. If you feel you need care at the moment, then your local council adult social care department. You could always look in your local public library and ask the library assistant if they can direct you. Are you a member of a church? They might be able to help

BlueBelle don't be so rude, everyone has a different experience on here!
Keepingquiet well done for speaking out😁

SA57

BlueBelle don't be so rude, everyone has a different experience on here!
Keepingquiet well done for speaking out😁

I haven’t been rude at all SA5 * Keepingquiet made a sweeping statement about her experience I gave the opposite view there is absolutely nothing rude about that at all.

Everyone has a different idea of friend. Its a word lacking in depth and definition.

BarryG1, I hope you found something of use here, if not, ask again. We are glad you are here.

I have found that for every one person who is brave enough to ask a question, there are a hundred more people wondering the same thing.

Independent Age is very good, they have lots of information and guides on their website and also a free helpline. Their website is www.independentage.org. Hope that helps

Thank you PinkSweetPea, I have never heard of Independent Age, and thank you for posting the link. I am alone with a few close friends, but no family, and always looking for ways to get information and support for myself as I continue to age. (So far, so good.) And good luck BarryG1 . Very brave and sensible of you to reach out to Gransnetters.

My Auntie had a befriending service after her family and partner died, possibly via a church? The lady that befriended her helped her with legal and medical stuff, also arranged her funeral. Shed distanced herself from the family sadly and we had no idea she was ill and alone.

I have never met anyone on here, but I like to think we are friends,
I have had some good support from here in the past.

Age UK and RVS used to have volunteer befrienders. They would visit the home or meet up somewhere. People with similar interests were attempted to be matched. The volunteers are DBS checked. If this is still going it may help with the friendship/ future loneliness side of things Barry.

I also have no family, and I have done the same as BlueBelle and tried to organise and pay for cremation costs, etc.

I have two good pen friends here on GN. We live so far away that I doubt we will ever meet.

I meet a couple of local GNs each month for coffee and a natter. This has been going on for nearly six years now.

Before COVID, I met up for coffee/lunch with around eight others, but the store closed, and we have not managed to meet since. I am very friendly with one GN I met there, and we met for coffee, but it is awkward for us to meet because of where we live. We are in constant communication.

I’ve always found that to find friends you have to be a friend first, not easy if you are not outgoing, one has to I feel just get out there, I’m not a natural joiner but I’m forcing myself to do it.

No word of thanks from Barry to posters who were kind enough to reach out to him.

I've made some very good friends here keepingquiet and retained a couple even though they're no longer on GN.

Bluebelle wasn't being rude SA57.

I'm afraid I don't have any advice to add to what's already been given Barry and hope that what has been given is of some help.

There could be numerous reasons why the OP hasn't responded yet petra.

Sorry for hi-jacking the thread somewhat. I will be clear that I misunderstood what OP was getting at, and my reply was slightly tongue in cheek though honest.
I didn't come here to make friends, and although I have exchanged PMs with some members it has always fizzled out.
Luckily I do have a full and interesting life (apart from on Sundays lol, but I think I've now cracked that one too!)
I do appreciate the breadth of topics here, I appreciate the accumulated wisdom (and some stupidity) of posters and think in the main people are friendly here, they just aren't my friends.
Now, back to OP's topic...

Reading the OP I am not clear what he is looking for, but wish him well. If he has in mind a possible future need for care, there are good suggestions already in this thread. But Barry, it sounds as if you would like also to have people to talk to. You might want to find a counsellor to tell your life story to - speaking and being fully heard can be transformatory. I am also an introvert and when on my own for a few years, I made myself go out to meet people and it made a huge difference. We do need to reach out into the world if we want connection with others. Like others I found u3a a good place to find both interest and friends. There are many other options too - groups for many different interests, like art, or walking, and more. I found I had to be brave but it was worth it. Good luck Barry!

petra

No word of thanks from Barry to posters who were kind enough to reach out to him.

Barry may feel a bit vulnerable about reaching out like that & be gathering his courage to look & see if anyone's replied & if he's embarrassed himself (which he hasn't).
When I changed from lurking to posting, I used to immediately close the forum, close my laptop & leave the room!! & pluck up courage to look again next day. Don't know why it was such a big deal, but if you're not naturally sociable it can be (also I can be foot-in-mouth so draw down scorn sometimes!)

Barry you made the first move on here. So make the next by responding to those who kindly answered your post.

Do you take holidays and travel Barry?

Without saying exactly where you are, do you want to share the region roughly you live?

Did you serve in the Armed Forces?

What did you do in your earlier life?