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Elderly parents

Idiots guide (place to share tips) for contact proof and proof of life

27 replies

Lamelie · 06/05/2023 15:54

Not a taat, although I’ll link to this thread there…
Over the years I’ve seen threads where elderly relatives living alone are uncontactable. Obviously in a crisis is not the best time to go through the daily text/ key safe/ neighbour details that would resolve this. So please add your ideas for avoiding such a scenario. I’m not talking about how many times do you chat to your granny or dealing with relatives with Alzheimer’s/ reduced capacity etc. just black and white, “shit, is she dead and short of calling the police what can I do?”

Have neighbours’ names and phone numbers
Have a key/ key safe/ know code
Daily phone call/ text/ more subtly do wordle/ worldle
Know priest/ shopkeeper/ pub staff

Please add!

OP posts:
Clymene · 06/05/2023 17:09

You go behind their back then @EmotionalBlackmail. Talk to their neighbour and ask if they will keep a key and ask if they would be willing to check up on them if you can't contact them.

And give the neighbours your number.

But also I think you have to bully them a bit. Tell them it's not bloody fair. Because it isn't.

EmotionalBlackmail · 06/05/2023 17:01

The trouble is actually getting the elderly person on board with any of this - mine refuses to have a key safe, didn't have a spare key with anyone local (have talked her round on this one so there are now a couple of people within a 30 min drive who have a key), doesn't want to 'bother' the neighbours about anything, refuses to use the electronic prescription service so her prescription details aren't on the NHS central spine (ie if she were admitted when GP closed no one would know what medication she's on), doesn't go to the same places consistently each week so no one would spot if she was missing.

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