An older man watering plants on a high-rise balcony

Stories / Helper's day off

Who looks out for Grandpa on the helper’s day off?

Mr Goh, 85, lives with his son Wei's family. On Sundays their helper Ana is off.

“He keeps his independence, and we keep our Sundays.”

Wei, his son

What happened

Three hours alone is a long time if something happens.

  1. An older man's hand on a walking stick
    11:20 am

    Getting up from the sofa, his legs give way.

  2. 20 seconds later

    Wei's phone buzzes in the car. So does Ana's.

  3. A young woman unlocking a front gate in an outdoor corridor
    11:35 am

    Ana is at a friend's nearby and gets there first.

What you can do

  1. Write a simple plan for the day: who is reachable and who is nearest.
  2. Leave water, a phone and a snack within reach of his chair.
  3. Agree in advance who turns back if something happens.
Read the guide Supporting Aging in Place: A Family Guide to Home Monitoring Technology
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