Check this out. I saw a woman who had 10 ways to keep you independent when living alone. Her husband had passed and she learned these things out the hard way. I felt there is something here for all of us.

10 things to keep you independent
1. Silent Alarm System – have a check in system with a neighbor or relative where you check in with them. (This person had a flowerpot that she would move from the left side of her window to the right side by 9:00 am every day. If it didn’t move, she would check on her at 10:00.)
2. External Brain – Something that helps her remember things. She kept a notebook and logged when she took her medicine, paid a bill, etc.
3. Financial bucket for joy – put money aside for fun stuff to do or buy.
4. Crisis folder – write down what medicines you take and who to call if you collapse and post it where it will be seen.
5. Panic Button you wear – hopefully you will never need it, but having one to use if you fall in your home is priceless.
6. Kitchen that works with your body. Rearrange your kitchen so things you don’t use very often are put away and things you use a lot are easy to reach.
7. Have a good relationship with your body – Don’t wait until it is too late to talk to your doctor about aches and pains. Get things checked out.
8. Do one ritual a day to ground you – Coffee on the patio, writing down your gratitude’s, something you do daily with purpose.
9. Find a connection – don’t rely on others to make you feel alive and part of something. If you like to paint, paint, if you enjoy writing, keep a journal, if you like to garden, plan a garden that works for you.
10. Have willingness to ask for help before it’s too late. Get over your pride and ask for help changing light bulbs before you fall off a ladder doing it. Call the plumber when your hot water heater starts making noise, it will save you money in the long run.