Help - need advice quickly, not sure what to do .

[SirVixofVixHall]

I have an elderly aunt, 73, who lives alone. In good health but very bad knees that limit her mobility a lot. She is very old fashioned, but she does use an ipad and facebook messenger, although she doesn’t often message me and her messages are usually quite brief. We chat on the telephone every few weeks.
I was out walking the dog but came home and there is a message from her, sent at 9.20pm, just saying this.
Stock k
again
That is all it says, i saw it about half an hour ago, assumed she has mis typed, and replied asking if all was ok and telling her I would call in the morning. But it suddenly occurred to me, what if she means “stuck” ? That she could have fallen. I live a long way from her, two and a half hour drive. If I call her she won’t answer as she is probably in bed, so it will really frighten her. The telephone is downstairs. She has a mobile that she rarely uses and I don’t know the number. I think that she has a button alarm thing, but I am not certain. She has a man locally who helps her with her shopping etc, and she would probably try to get him in an emergency.
What to do ?

I’d call the police OP. I’m an officer and I’ve attended a lot of calls like this. If she hasn’t fallen it’ll be a bit of a shock for her but better that then to wait if she has.

I think steffgreen's advice is really good op. Good luck.

DH is worrying about what would happen if he drove over, most probably she would be upstairs asleep and he would be knocking the door, at three a.m.
She would struggle to get downstairs, even if he managed to wake her.
I can’t drive, and our children are asleep upstairs.
I think I might contact the local police if I don’t hear anything back.
How could I find out about the alarm button. I am sure she said she had been given one after her last (very bad ) fall, I think the local authority organised it, is that likely ?
As she is 73 she is still very independent and so although I would happily help with things like that, she doesn’t want me to.

Police and ask for advice

Don’t post on social media looking for someone to check in on her as previously suggested. Although well intentioned, you’d be advertising the location of a vulnerable person.

Ok, if we can’t get hold of the local man, I will call her local police, and DH will drive over if necessary.
Hopefully she is in bed asleep!

Yes, I won’t post on her local facebook, don’t want all and sundry to see that she is alone and vulnerable.

When I said if you don't hear anything back I sort of meant tonight - like now. If she's had a fall she shouldnt really wait till morning and the police can get there quicker than you can.

It’s an odd message.

Ring 101 or use your forces online chat facility if they have one. Unfortunately it could be several hours til they attend so I’d send OH too.

And keep ringing that guy.

Am about to call police.

Perhaps her local authorities for elder care has a website where it is stated which company they use for alarms. Welfare check seems the best option, if no response they will know what to do, your dh won't. Best of luck.

Got my fingers firmly crossed that everything is fine

Man has just texted back and says he will check on her . He last saw her at ten to eight this evening.

Good decision, Vix. I hope everything is ok.

Have called him back but he is engaged, he had been driving so is probably working.

Give the police a bell now then. It's very strange for her to have sent that message.

Great news about man responding. Hopefully she was searching for something on stock and messaged by mistake.

I was in the system for the police when he texted, so am holding back now until I know when the man can check on her.
She is a sensible person, but she could easily be unable to get up, and stuck on the floor.

You've done the right thing, better to check. I do hope she is okay - I'm sure she will be!

Better safe than sorry x

FWIW a grey circle with a tick on Messenger means the message has been delivered/received, but not been read. In other words, your aunt hasn't opened Facebook Messenger. She may have read the notification, though, and not clicked the message (then it would have a circle with her photo/avatar in it).

Hope she's OK.

I contacted police who did a welfare check when i was worried about my parents.

Man says she has a ‘phone next to where she sleeps now, it sounds as though she may be sleeping on the sofa, she didn’t mention that when we spoke a few weeks ago. I have telephoned her and no answer.
He says in the past she has always called him when she has fallen, he is working, and probably intends to check after he finishes, which could be goodness knows when as it is Friday night, (it was hard to hear him as in a busy taxi office. )
I will call the police for advice.

Am in the police system again , 101. Should I cal 999 ?

It is giving me a choice of options, none of which apply at all.

I think calling is ok as she could have been having a stroke and trying to get help. Phoning the police is ok. You can message or call him and ask if he has an ETA to give the police as you want to call them.

Once you start to worry then you can’t sleep until you check