An 81-year-old Victoria man died on Tuesday, a day after he was discovered on the floor of his apartment, where he had been lying for at least a week after falling.
It was one of two incidents in 24 hours where Victoria police were called to assist someone who had fallen and been unable to summon help for days.
The second incident occurred Monday night in the 500 block of Comerford Street in Esquimalt, where a 55-year-old with health problems was found by police and firefighters after a friend called for assistance when he hadn’t heard from him for a week.
Officers believe the second man was likely on his floor for four to five days. His condition is unknown.
The man who died, Ray Allen, was found after his daughter drove to the Gorge-View Homes Society on Chown Place to see why he had not responded to phone messages, residents of the 108-unit complex said.
Jeff Baarda, caretaker at Gorge-View, said he accompanied the complex’s administrator to Allen’s unit with the key, where the man was found clinging to life. He was taken by ambulance to hospital.
Allen had lived at the far end of the independent living complex, his front door recessed in a large alcove where nearly a week’s worth of newspapers had accumulated. A sheet with a commemorative verse to Allen’s family was visible in his mailbox Tuesday evening.
Baarda called Allen “a super guy,” whom he saw regularly walking with his cane on Gorge Road.
The length of time that Allen lay helpless is “unspeakable,” said Carol Puckett, who lived the equivalent of a city block from Allen and had met him a couple of times.
“That’s what I am struggling with — that nobody noticed he wasn’t out and around.”
One woman who lived closer said she thought he was on vacation.
Residents said many people like to keep to themselves, but there is a community meeting tonight to discuss a buddy system.
Merv Baron, the residents’ representative on the complex’s board of directors, said he used to see home-care workers go into Allen’s unit, but believed that had stopped. Allen’s death has left other residents “very concerned,” he said.
The issue raises concerns about how to keep in touch with frail and elderly people in case of emergency and also underscores the fact that, according to Statistics Canada, 49 per cent of Victorians live alone, compared with 28 per cent Canada-wide.
“This is a city that’s growing old, and we can expect to see more of it — it’s inevitable,” said retired Saanich professor Elaine Gallagher, an expert on falls.
“And we need to be better prepared, there’s absolutely no question about it.”
As people age, they need to ensure that at least once a day, a neighbour, friend or relative checks with them, she said. Volunteer organizations such as Seniors Serving Seniors can also provide checks.
Call-alert buttons are vital and so are cellphones pre-programmed for emergency contacts, she said.
People are at much higher risk of falling if they have suffered one previous fall, are wearing new glasses or are taking medication at night that leaves them drowsy the next morning, when many falls occur.
“The public should also be willing to realize their responsibility in contacting people in authority should they notice anything out of character,” said Sherri Dixon, program co-ordinator at James Bay New Horizons Society.
On Monday night, someone from the Gorge Road Royal Canadian Legion called Baarda, questioning Allen’s absence for the past week.
“He was a regular here and was always cheerful — anybody who ever talked to him felt happier,” said Ted Leaker, president of the Gorge Royal Canadian Legion. “We’ll miss him.”
