Living alone with pets. What if.......

[dennis in se pa]

I live alone with 3 dogs. I get enough social interaction to satisfy that need. But there are times when I actually go a day or two without seeing or communicating with someone in my inner circle. And it has crossed my mind that if I had a heart attack how long would it take for someone to find me? I am mostly worried about caring for my dogs. Food and water. They have daily calling services for seniors, but that seems a little over the top. A daily email exchange would be preferable. Does anyone know of/have experience with such a service? I would not want to burden a friend with this.

[Gooch1971]

For a friend, it's not a burden.

[recycled sixtie]

Yes that is one of the drawbacks of living alone. You need somebody to call you daily such as a neighbour or friend. Don't be like my grandfather who passed away in his sleep and a friend found him in bed after about four days after his death. He had no pets though.

Yes I would be concerned about the dogs. A key to your house could be given to the trusted friend. There must be a service or should be where an auto call goes to your house and you respond still alive or....

Guy

[sc_rufctr]

Do you go to Church? A Church (admin office) often provide such services to their elderly.

[dennis in se pa]

I know of a person who died and this was unnoticed for a week. A neighbor finally called someone they knew had been his friend. Police had to break in. He was found dead in the living room. He had no pets. Must not have been a pretty sight. Lots of people have keys to my house. No - I don't attend church. I am one of those spiritual but not religious types. I feel fine, but am 63 and had a heart valve repaired in 2003. You never know. Not really worried about me - if I go I go. It's my pups I am concerned about.

[Mo_Gearhead]

Used to work with a woman that was single.
She kept several ferrets as pets.
They roamed the place as indoor cats would.
She died.
No one checked on her for several days.
Ferrets eventually got hungry....

[dennis in se pa]

This is a common story according to the internet. I would rather my dogs eat me than they starve to death. After all at that point I would not be "here" anymore!

[rwest]

I have a special needs Foster dog at home and am also single. One thing I need to do quickly is put together a "cheat sheet" of all the people and vets who could take care of him along with a list of meds, food and how to express his bladder etc.

The other thing I have thought about is making a card that sits in front of my ID in my wallet that says there is a dog at my house that should be rescued if anything happens to me.

Good idea to have someone send you an email each day and if no response stops over or calls a neighbor.

[yazhound]

Originally Posted by Gooch1971

For a friend, it's not a burden.

This for sure. Wonder what relationship with neighbors? One of my best friends lives across the street. Became friends only after he moved in. He often asks if I need him to let out my dogs if I am late returning home, or he thinks I am.

We both watch each other's dogs when the other is on vacation.

Do you have friends close by?

[yazhound]

Originally Posted by dennis in se pa

This is a common story according to the internet. I would rather my dogs eat me than they starve to death. After all at that point I would not be "here" anymore!

I'd have to agree. And in the end there would truly be unity. : )

[herr_oberst]

Well, for sure, it's better to live with a pet than without.

I like the idea of the wallet card. And the daily email.

[john70t]

If you don't mind the intrusion, there are a lot of pay services available:
Med Alert | Mobile Alert Systems Mobile panic button on a necklace.
CARE® and eCARE Check Up Calls | Service Under $15 / Month - CARE Telephone Reassurance Program.
Simply Checking In | Automated Daily Care Calls for Elderly Home Safety | Home
Telephone Reassurance Call Service & Programs - providing seniors daily telephone check-in, medical alerts, caregiver support, RUOK programs

Beware the scams. Seniors get a warning on medical alert scam

[dennis in se pa]

"They have daily calling services for seniors, but that seems a little over the top. A daily email exchange would be preferable."

Yes, there are many services that call. Not what I am looking for. But thanks. Boomers do or soon will need this service. We are "tech savvy" as they say. An email/text exchange is a better choice for me. With a phone call if necessary. And the med alert button won't help if you heart has stopped. Unless I teach my dogs to push it!

[vash]

I do rounds with my neighbors. They are all elderly. I know who has keys to which house. Last month this elderly ladies dobies barked for hours. I went to a neighbor and got the key. We went in to find the lady fast asleep. Buzzed. Haha. I'm glad her dogs didn't kill us, or we got shotgunned by a old lady.

Make friends with neighbors.

[Rick V]

When we bought this place there was an elderly gentleman who lived across the street that I had become very close friends with. He had another friend who lived just a few doors down the road. I checked in with Ed. every night (after his wife Passed) and Sam from down the street checked in on him every morning.
I was the last person to see him but Sam found him in the morning.
Like said earlier, for friends it is not a burden, it's what friends do

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by Rick V

it's what friends do

Relax It will make your friends feel important. They will enjoy their new sense of responsibility.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by Mo_Gearhead

Used to work with a woman that was single.
She kept several ferrets as pets.
They roamed the place as indoor cats would.
She died.
No one checked on her for several days.
Ferrets eventually got hungry....

Oh Great! Thanks for the imagery...

[creaturecat]

Originally Posted by Mo_Gearhead

Used to work with a woman that was single.
She kept several ferrets as pets.
They roamed the place as indoor cats would.
She died.
No one checked on her for several days.
Ferrets eventually got hungry....

The ferrets ate her?
Honest?

Would a dog or a house cat do the same?

[ckelly78z]

Two words......"Life Alert"..........help, I've fallen, and I can't get up !

[GWN7]

We used to get "Check on the well being" calls all the time at work. Some times it worked out good other times not so well.

Had a 92 year old female "not spoken to since last night". We get the call at 10 am. Old folks apartment block. Knock, kick and pound on her door. No answer. Start to set up the Rabbit tool. It's a thin bladed hydraulic tool that pries open door frames. Bends the hell out of a metal frame. Just as we start to use it the elevator door opens and a 4' tall little old lady walks out and asks "What are you doing to my door?" Happy ending.

In my own case I have a buddy that I asked to look after my furry friend if something happens to me. I wrote a list of dog operating instructions for him which I added to over time. I told the executor of my estate about this arrangement and wrote a special section in my will to cover food, grooming and medical expenses for him looking after the beast. Now there is two of them I guess I'll have to make more arrangement's for the beasts.

As to checking on me I have a group of friends who will phone, text or email if I stay at home too much. My kid phones every couple days too.