Living Alone with Confidence ~ Health

Health

10 things to prepare for being sick alone

Fear of Dying alone?

This is an elusive term.

I searched the keyword ‘dying alone’ on the web and it surprised me to find posts about someone dying in a room full of friends yet their friends claiming the victim still ‘died alone.’ How is that so? They were with a room full of friends weren’t they?

This is misleading. I suppose it means someone who died after their spouse, meaning they died ‘single’ or widowed, which to me is not ‘alone’ at all.

I often consider people who die on the street as alone, meaning a homeless or stranded person not with friends or people to help them. This leads to people dying in a hospital with lots of professionals caring for them, yet many dying in hospitals still fall in the category as ‘dying alone.’

It could also refer to people who are away from their family, in a different town so to speak.

Dying in a war zone, in the military, could be considered dying alone, but not necessarily.

Many people have a great fear of dying alone. This affects the attitudes and public image of people who live alone. I have lived alone most of my life and have no fear of dying alone at all. I have planed ahead for what to do with my body and have ‘made arrangements.’ [see legal advice sub-topic, planning your funeral]

Death is a very emotional issue. Our ego can get caught up in our funeral arrangements. We are concerned about how we will be remembered, our legacy. We are concerned about those loved ones who survive us.

Planning your funeral or what to do when you die will help take away some of the fear of dying.

At my death, I arranged things mainly to ease and comfort those who will survive me.

I live far away from most of my relatives and know it will be hard for them to drop everything and come running cross country to handle matters at my death. So, I’ve arranged to have immediate matters handled by people who live near by, so that distant loved ones can take their time [come at their next vacation or leave]. In most cases, they will not have to leave their home at all, but have a ceremony in the town where they live.

Most of the things I want others to have after I die have been talked over and I’ve arranged to have my household ‘dissolved’ so to speak in an orderly fashion and in a way I find pleasing and even comforting to know while I still live out my life. Some items will go to friends and the rest to favorite charities.

Your religion will also be a matter here, such as how you view ‘after life.’ For this, talk to which ever religious counselor you admire. Death is a topic they deal with often; and they will know how to ease your fear.

My first reaction was, so what? But I do see the concern. It’s a public health issue. This falls into the health issue or post about being prepared for being sick alone. I am well prepared and when I’m sick or recovering from illness, I always have a friend who will at least call, if not come by the house. Contact your landlord or any neighbor no matter how much you’re ‘strangers.’ Most are willing to check in on you and you can return the favor for them when they aren’t well.

It is also about being prepared for accidents, which I’ve discussed in another post. 

At the top of this page, see the link to the Subtopic, Health Index, then click on 10 Ways to Prepare for being sick alone.

You need to maintain your health when you are alone because you are the sole breadwinner and

head of household. Taking care of yourself is a sign of maturity and responsibility. No one can do

it for you really. You can be dependent but in the end, in most cases, your health is in your hands

alone. You could contact a disease, but that is a possibility for anyone anywhere, not just

someone living alone.

No one will be there to comfort you when you are sick. You do it on your own, so plan for it.

How will you cope with a fever? How many days of work could you miss? Can you keep track

of pills and medicine you need to take, even if your sleepy and not feeling well?

1. Get yourself a nice First Aide Kit [sold in Pharmacies everywhere]

2. Add to your First Aide kit:

• a thermometer you know how to use and one you can read easily
• a good pair of tweezers,
• a good pair of small scissors - use them to cut large over the counter pills in half if you are
  a small adult
• extra tissues, cotton balls and cotton covered sticks

3. Post on your First Aide Kit

•  
  • the phone number and opening times of a local pharmacy
  • the phone number and opening times of a local clinic
  • which bus to take to get there on your own so you won’t have to drive while sick
    or rely on a ride
  • the number of a neighbor to come check up on you or just call you when your sick

4. Get a weekly pill box, to sort pills needed to be taken each day - big enough for lots of pills

            Use this for both prescription and over the counter pills - use it whenever you take pills

            It is easy to forget you just took a pill and accidentally overdose taking another one

            You certainly don’t want to drive not knowing you took two pills instead of one

            Even two common cold pills can knock people out, especially if you’re 5’ tall or less

5. If you have a pet

Arrange to have someone walk the dog, or other pet matters while you’re sick.

Make this arrangements now while you’re healthy, and offer to return the favor when thier sick.

6. Food when you’re sick:

Keep a cabinet in the kitchen for what I call, “emergency foods.” I use these when I’m sick or
when it’s snowing, and don’t want to go out, or down to the store. Make it easy to prepare and
digest. Something you’ll eat even when you don’t feel well, like peanut butter, jam and crackers,
a can of soup, tuna, chili, or rice. I am always surprised how often I rely on this store of food.
Don’t ignore it; it’s there for you when you don’t want to go out or just plain can’t due to
weather or illness.

7. Prepare for an emergency accident

Suppose you fall and are seriously hurt, or begin having some sort of seizure. What to do if
you’re alone? Have the phone and a 911 number to call where you can reach it from the floor

[keep the pet away from it]; [a cell phone on you at all times is a good idea]

 If you KNOW you are ill, or recovering from surgery, have someone check in on you or stay
with you. Arrange this now, ahead of time, even if it’s just a landlord. Most neighbors will be
willing to look in on you even if you ‘don’t really know them’ or don’t socialize with them
through the year.

8. Get a home medical reference guide. Don’t just rely on a guide that came with your first aide
kit, get a book covering all areas of family home health. ~ You can also use the web, but it is

handier to have an in-depth book you already trust and are familiar with. This matters when you

don’t feel well and your health is concerned to you. Remember, you’re collecting things now for

when you won’t feel well, when things aren’t routine and normal. Searching the web can help,

but it can be a bother when all you want to do is sleep. When your sick is no time to get lost in

the web trying to read obscure sites about your health.

            ~ Review your home health book every time you don’t feel well or suffer an ache

9. Over the counter medicine to collect ‘before’ you need them:

            Cold, allergy and flu aides, with something for sore throat and coughs

            a roll of antacids,

            something for common kitchen burns,

            something for common blisters,

            something for common aching muscles, pulled tendons.

                        Include a bath mix for tired muscles and tension for when you overwork

            Include aspirin or an aspirin substitute that you can take

            something for minor cuts and sores

            Any medicine you take for things you particularly and routinely suffer

10. Get a fold out table if need, for the bedside while you’re sick

            The bedside table will hold lots of extra items when you’re sick. Get a fold up table
            for them.  Things for the bedside when you’re sick:

                        a glass of Water,

                        clock,

                        calendar,

                        notebook: record your symptoms and doctor appointments 

                        Pills and medicines

                        Tissues, and have a paper bag for used tissues

                        The book you’re reading, or hobby you’re doing while in bed [dvd’s, etc]

                        A phone and phone book

                        a lamp

                        perhaps a radio

                        a heating pad, ice bag and towel, or humidifier are common items also

Learn to heal yourself. Learn to comfort yourself.