DEAR ABBY: I am a single woman in my sixties. I am very solitary and I mostly stay alone. Although I know my lifestyle may not be conventional, it is the one I choose.

What worries me is the possibility of dying alone at home. I have serious health problems and don’t expect to live long. I sometimes go weeks without contact with another human being, and if I were to die, there is a very real possibility that it would go completely unnoticed for a while.

I’m not asking you for advice on how to fix my lonely life because, frankly, I accept it. What I would like to know is if there is a way – a service, a device or something – that would alert someone in the likely event that I am alone when I reach my end. — FLY SOLO IN TEXAS

DEAR SOLO: Excellent question. If you have a newspaper delivered, your carrier will notice if it starts piling up at your door. The same would apply if your mailman noticed that your mail was starting to pile up. There are also apps and services that will contact you daily to make sure everything is okay.

I heard about it is the telephone reinsurance program. This is often a free service provided by a county’s Department of Aging and Disability. Volunteers call elderly or disabled adults daily to help them remain independent at home for as long as possible. If this is not available in your area, check with your local senior center, AARP, or department of senior services for recommendations.