Dear Heloise: I read a letter about keeping track of elderly people who live alone and their pets. A friend of my mother’s was left three days after having a stroke before someone found her. After this, I began calling my mother daily at 8 a.m. She’d answer and say, “I don’t know anything,” and I’d say, “I don’t know anything.” Then, an hour later, we’d hang up after chatting. I miss these calls.

Now I’m the one living alone, and I text my son daily that I’m OK. I also keep a bowl full of dry cat food for my Katie, just in case something happens. — Linda H., in Lincoln, Nebraska

Linda, I used to call home frequently when I was away to make certain that my folks were OK and that they knew I was, too. I call my friends regularly to make certain that everyone is safe and well. In this busy world, we should all look out for people who might need help. — Heloise

HUNGRY HOUSE PESTS

Dear Heloise: My husband and I just spent a small fortune on a termite infestation in our home. I don’t want to go through this again, so what should I do to avoid termites in the future? — Doug and Mamie, in Houston

Doug and Mamie, here are suggestions that I received from a pest control company:

— Never let shrubs, stacked firewood, trellises or tree branches touch the house. This goes for wooden decks and wooden planters as well. Termites usually look for water, and the items mentioned above provide a pathway into your house.

— Because they seek water, try to keep puddles, sprinklers and water fountains away from your home. A water feature may be nice to look at, but it attracts termites.

— If there’s any indication of termites, such as tunnels, loose wooden steps, or perhaps holes in your wooden deck (or if you see an actual termite), call a professional pest control company. Ignoring their damage will only result in more damage to your home.

— If you use a professional pest control company, ask them about installing a French drain, which channels water away from your home. — Heloise

THE THANKSGIVING TREE

Dear Heloise: This past year, my family (my husband and I, as well as our six children, plus both of our mothers) couldn’t gather together for Christmas. So, I decided to have a “Thanksgiving tree.” I bought a small blue spruce tree, which we later planted in our yard and decorated it in a fall theme.

When everyone arrived on Thanksgiving, I gave them each a piece of paper and told them to write down what they were thankful for. Then I folded the papers and placed them on the tree. Later in the evening, I read them out loud to everyone while we rested after such a heavy meal. The Thanksgiving tree was a big hit with everyone! — Connie R., in Utica, New York

CONTACT LIST FOR WILLS

Dear Heloise: My brother and I were talking about our wills the other day, and I asked him to make out a “contact list” of people and phone numbers to call when he leaves this world. I’ve done the same thing, and I mailed a copy to him and have a copy on my bulletin board. We live in different cities and states, so we felt that it was important to notify people when one of us dies. I’m 84, and my brother is 81. — Henry K., in Detroit

SEND A GREAT HINT TO:

Heloise@Heloise.com