An older man smiling at his dinner table

Stories / Lives alone

Since Mum died, Dad lives alone and won’t move in with us. Is that safe?

Mr Ho, 83, has lived alone since his wife died. His daughter Fiona lives nearby.

“He stays in the home he shared with Mum, and we're not afraid for him.”

Fiona, his daughter

What happened

The flat is full of memories, and he won't leave it.

  1. A chair beside a floor lamp in a quiet room
    8:45 pm

    Getting up from his reading chair, he falls and can't stand.

  2. 20 seconds later

    Fiona's phone shows an alert. Her brother Edwin's does too, in KL.

  3. Three family members holding hands
    9:00 pm

    Fiona and her daughter drive over and help him up.

What you can do

  1. Visit at different times of day, so you see how his days really go.
  2. Help him keep his routines and friends: the coffee shop, a class, a walk.
  3. Choose chairs that are easy to stand up from: firm, with arms.
Read the guide Longer Lives, Everyday Choices: Supporting Independence as Parents Age
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