I walk past Dorothy Wheeler’s house every morning on my way to get coffee. She’s 82, lives alone since her husband passed, and has been getting the paper delivered for as long as I can remember. Four days ago I noticed her newspaper sitting in the driveway. Then another. And another. Her car hasn’t moved, the porch light has been on 24/7, and nobody’s answered when I knocked.
Called her daughter in Ohio who hadn’t heard from her either. Long story short, Dorothy had fallen in her bathroom and couldn’t reach the phone. She’s okay now, recovering at St. Mary’s, but it could have been so much worse. If you notice something off about an elderly neighbor—newspapers piling up, lights staying on, car not moving—don’t just assume they’re traveling. Knock on that door…