I've become disabled in recent years and am reluctantly dependent on carers.
So I 'get' what it's like to be elderly in some ways... helpful people rushing to tell you what to do and what you care about and how you must live! Not talking about you by the way - obviously I hope!
But people, including many hcps trample all over your dignity, independence and right to decide how you live, and yes, right to decide how you die too. And the amount of people who think as soon as you're physically disabled (or elderly I suspect), you no longer have basic human rights like medical confidentiality for example. It was horrible at the beginning, there's a big different between being 'a normal healthy adult' and becoming incapable in some way. Experiencing that gap, is upsetting whether you're 27 or 87. At least I got better at advocating for my right to be treated in the same way other adults are, but many elderly people wouldn't be in a position to do that.
It's essential that elderly people are listened to, and their wants, and fears are fully respected. Even if it means watching someone make mistakes and poor decisions.
I faved that this year, as my mother had a fall, was lying to everyone about the state of her house and her capabilities etc. You'd have thought I'd be really strong on the whole 'not my choice to make' stuff, but it's so hard when you're on the other side of it!
Caring and helping elderly people stay healthy can be done though, whilst respecting the persons rights and capabilities. Especially when people just need a bit of help vs a complete shift to being dependent on others for daily life.
IME there is a higher positive take up on OH equipment, as that's all about helping people stay independent longer (& therefore keeping people out of your home!).
My mother jumped for that as it was helping her to what she was insisting on doing - staying in her house (forever, sadly I think she wants to die there, to the extent that she will discharge herself and lie through her teeth, in order to die by a horrible fall and thirst/ injury getting her before anyone carting her off to a care home. It's very very sad, but, I can't change her mind. And in a way, I hope she gets to control it like that, by hook or by crook, she's damn determined and very good at manipulation (!), because I'll feel like a traitor if I'm the one she thinks has stopped her in the end.
Re emergency access to your neighbours home... I'd hope the professionals are sensitive to his feelings as well as ease of access. After having had some council provided agency care, I refused a key safe, much to the anger of various people. I realised that with the council sourced agency care experience I had (which will be location specific), the key safe meant giving up any control over who entered not just my house but my bathroom or bedroom, and at any time of the day. With several different agencies, all with huge numbers of carers appearing any time of the day, hardly ever seeing the same face twice, it was absolutely hideous!
I hope that your neighbour isn't pressured to have one in the same way I was, as I was made to feel like a stupid incompetent child :(
If the situation is rather better though, or used differently, a keysafe might be good. I can imagine if you're an elderly person who's unable to get up, dress or do any personal care then it works better as they aren't moving around, or trying to wee (or change sanitary pads/ incontinence wear etc), when carers walk in.
Hopefully, it doesn't sound like your neighbour is quite at that stage, so after a rehab period, it may be that he consents to you having a key in case of emergencies, but that you promise only to use in it circumstances he agrees with you in general beforehand.
Or if he doesn't have carers then perhaps a keylock just for gp practice/ community nurses, & you/ neighbour/friend? That way he gets to use his house as his own still, but there's an emergency plan in place.
If he's broadly ok, then he'll probably be let home with an OH assessment. They'll install a few handles, grips etc, and perhaps a walker, and he'll be back to living how he used to.