Can my elderly parent still live alone safely?

Signs it's still working

Whether you are asking if your mom is safe living alone, or if it is safe for your dad, start here:

• She eats regular meals, and the fridge has fresh food.
• She takes her medicines as prescribed.
• Bills get paid and mail gets opened.
• She gets around the house safely.
• She keeps up with friends, neighbors or church.
• She knows what to do in an emergency.

Whether she is 80 or 90, these matter more than the number.

Signs an elderly person should not live alone

• Missed medicines, or pills taken on the wrong days
• Spoiled food, weight loss or skipped meals
• Unpaid bills, or piles of unopened mail
• Falls, bruises she cannot explain, or a new fear of falling
• Getting lost, leaving the stove on, or new confusion
• Pulling away from people

One sign may mean a small fix. Several together mean it is time to talk with her doctor.

The one risk everyone living alone shares

Whatever her health, living alone means nobody may notice right away if something goes wrong. The National Institute on Aging suggests daily contact with a family member or friend for this reason.

A daily check-in lowers that one risk. With Hammock365, she taps I'm Okay each morning. If she has not tapped by the time you picked, a text goes out. It is free forever. It does not answer whether she can live alone. It only shortens the wait if something happens.

Small supports that help her stay

• A home safety check by an occupational therapist. Ask her doctor.
• Medication reminders on her phone, free in Hammock365, or a pill organizer.
• Meals on Wheels, which brings meals along with a check-in.
• A neighbor or friend with a key.
• Her local Area Agency on Aging, through the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.

When a check-in is the wrong answer

If she has memory loss, she may wander, forget what the button means, or tap without being okay. Then a daily tap is not a safety plan. The same goes for repeated falls. Talk with her doctor about the right level of help.

Talking about it without a fight

Start with what she wants, which is usually to stay home. Ask what would help her stay. If she is of sound mind, the choice is usually hers. For legal questions, talk with an elder law attorney.

The honest limit

Hammock365 is not a medical alert, a fall detector, a location tracker or an emergency service, and it never calls anyone or 911. In an emergency, call 911.