"Help" - email from grandma

Fluff15

Whatsapp allows you to send messages instantly like a text, the recipient has to have it too - I use it all the time as it used web connection instead of a phone signal and I get no signal at all in my house. O2 also used to have a five free text thing a month in an emergency, I used to use these when I was much younger and run out of credit.

I think a second phone is a better option though in this instance for something like a conservatory though. I hope she's okay!

fluffymuffy

Thanks all for your concern.

Grandma now free (of course) and it's a mystery how it happened. The door was really locked. I'm guessing that somehow the key turned with the vibration of her closing it. She says it was a ghost that did it. All the keys were on one bunch - now we've got the key to the outside door in that lock so should it happen again she can get out that way. I'm guessing she won't full close the door in future.

I think it was worth driving over there rather than calling the police as we have the key to the front door. Of course we'd have had to call them had she put the chain on, or bolted it.

She does have good presence of mind in an emergency. A few years ago she got stuck in the loft.... The ladder was in a broom cupboard and she went up there for something and closed the door after her to keep the heat in the house. Then the door handle fell off on the outside taking the spindal thingy with it. After a couple of hours she went back up into the loft and found a tool box, and then took the door handle off and used a large screwdriver in the latch.

We do phone every day and if we didn't get an answer we'd try again a few hours later (she might be out) and ultimately we'd go round to check.

She wouldn't want neighbours checking up on her - far too independent - but a sprinkling of mobile phones about the place is a good idea, also I'll be looking to download that app that lets her send a text from her ipad.

stormbreaker

It wouldn't do any harm to get a neighbour or twos phone numbers, not so much as they can pop in regular, just that they are closer!

A few years ago I exchanged phone numbers with a housebound neighbour. I phone him at the beginning of the bad weather and confirm he still has my number to hand. He returns the call at the end of the winter, thanking me.

This is our only contact! He knows where we are and can be there in no time.:)

JemmaBe

Get your grandma a Skype account, and put £10 credit onto it. You can then call any landlines, mobiles etc if needed through the iPad.

Glad she is ok now!

Mojisola

fluffymuffy wrote: »

She wouldn't want neighbours checking up on her - far too independent - but a sprinkling of mobile phones about the place is a good idea, also I'll be looking to download that app that lets her send a text from her ipad.

stormbreaker wrote: »

It wouldn't do any harm to get a neighbour or twos phone numbers, not so much as they can pop in regular, just that they are closer!

If you are the nearest help at 30 minutes away - and that's if you're at home when she needs help - encourage her to have an emergency plan with neighbours or a friend who lives a bit closer.

I cared for my parents and, when the phone rang to say one of them had fallen, it was a massive relief to know that a neighbour who had a key could be contacted to go round straightaway and deal with things until I could get there.

*max*

I think a couple of cheap basic mobiles in strategic areas (where she's more likely to get locked in/have a fall: conservatory, bathroom...), fully charged then turned off, would be a good compromise. Put in your number as well as 999 and check them once in a while. Those keep their charge for ages compared to the smart phones we have nowadays. It makes me sound so old...I'm 36.

troubleinparadise

Having a keysafe with a coded lock fitted outside the house would mean that the Police (or a neighbour/whoever she contacts) could get into the house (assuming it's not got a bolt lock!) if she needed freeing another time without having to smash a window or break down a door.

Lots of older people have these as used by carers etc so they don't have to answer their front doors themselves.

This sort of thing:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/master-lock-5-key-combination-key-safe/77908?kpid=77908&cm_mmc=Google-_-Product%20Listing%20Ads-_-Sales%20Tracking-_-sales%20tracking%20url&gclid=CJqpw5jQg7sCFTMftAodz1cAug

dawyldthing

i used to use cbfsms.com to send free texts. I think you have to watch an advertisement or something but they do send the texts for free. I'd also second to enquire about the cord that connects in the house, just in case of tumbles or anything so she can get help as my nan had one and one of my su has one too and they can be really helpful as they will phone you and also ring for help if there are any problems

PasturesNew

Xmas present sorted: Nice box to be kept in the conservatory containing a thermal blanket, slippers, socks, a cardigan, a wooly hat/gloves, some chocolate, kendal mint cake and a book of jokes.

Tropez

silvercar wrote: »

They do, you just have to hope the person you are calling answers.

You can also download apps live Skype and use them to call emergency services.

For the record, Skype specifically states when you first install it that it can not be used to make calls to emergency services.

I'm happy to hear the OPs grandmother is now safe.