I'm a senior living alone: How do I find help?

Hello, @mogal1951. You are very wise to plan ahead for any contingencies with getting more severely depressed in the future. If you do at some point need help with meds and food, it would be great to have a resource at the ready.

I am sorry that you do not have anyone in your life who could play this role, should you need it at any point.

I'd like to suggest that National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) could be a helpful resource to identify from where you could obtain help, if needed. Here is contact info for their help line: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or info@nami.org (see https://www.nami.org/Find-Support/NAMI-HelpLine).

I'd also like to connect you with @johnbishop @hopeful33250 @parus and @amberpep, who may have additional ideas for you for resources.

How would you say your depression is this week?

I do not have personal experience but I have heard from my DBSA group that Easter Seals can be very helpful.

How would Easter Seals be helpful? In what way?

I have heard at my DBSA group that Easter Seals offers all types of assistance, recommendations and information that might be helpful to you. You can call them and see what they can offer to you.
Your town may have some type of senior groups that can offer recommendations as well. I know where I live in NJ there is an active senior center and they have activities, meetings, indoor fairs where services are displayed and you can learn what is available, etc.

What kind of help does Easter seals give in regards to depression

I'm sorry I don't have first hand experience with them so I can't answer your question. Their website is: http://www.easterseals.com/
if you want to review their information and see if they could be of any help to you.

@mogal1951, I'd like to suggest you try your county's local government. Go on-line and start searching for things like "Senior Assistance", "Senior Services", etc. Also, try any (or all) of your local churches starting with the religion you were raised in whether you still practice or not. My mother could not have survived without the help of volunteers from a church group for meds, food, finding someone to donate their time to make small repairs, etc. They also coordinated with "Meals on Wheels". For myself, I called several taxi cab companies until I found one that gave a senior discount who after one of my surgeries walked with me through the grocery store and pharmacy. Take care. I truly wish you the best of luck. @cognac

It is a comfort to hear there are still kind people somewhere.

@mogal1951

I would like to welcome you to Connect. I'm glad that you reached out to Connect with your concerns. While depression can lead to a lonely existence, it is never too late to reach out to organizations who will provide you with the assistance that you need.

I urge you to contact some of the organizations mentioned by others in this discussion and see what help you can find.

Please post again, I look forward to hearing from you and I wish you better days in the future.

Teresa

Hello @calypso and @cognac

I want to thank you for all of the good suggestions you offered to @mogal1951

Your suggestions sound very good and the fact that you have used some of them is great!

Teresa