Good illustration of why it's a good reason to keep tabs on family members who live alone. Or for those who live alone to have some kind of system in place so that if they don't check in every day, that someone will notice and check on them. Works like letting someone know where you're heading to hike and when you're ETA.

Bet those three kids feel awful that their dad was alone and suffering when they might have worked out some way to be alerted.

For example, Grandpa or that elderly relative can send a goofy daily joke or answer a few lines of daily inspiraton if talking on the phone every day is excessive. Lets someone know that all is o.k. -- or NOT!