First off, sorry for your loss. They say if you lose a spouse or loved one, you need to take a year before making any major decisions but something in your post jumped out at me. I too lived very rural (moved dad in with me and bought a home closer to siblings when he showed signs of dementia). It was a great move and one that served it's purpose; however, dad eventually died, and my siblings relocated.
I was 58 back then but realized that as a single woman, as I age I needed to be closer to civilization, medical, grocery stores, etc I took 2 years trying to decide my best option - but we don''t age backwards so I decided to check into over 55 communities, picked a model and had a one level, 2 bed 2 bath home built. Not one step in this house! HOA fees pay for activities, trash, the pool, the clubhouse, common grounds and snow removal in the individual driveways and sidewalks, etc You have the option of paying extra and they do all the individual yard maintenance (cut, weed, aerate, etc) If you have any of these in your area - maybe it's something you can consider in the future. Whenever any of us plan to be gone for any amount of time, we alert the neighbors to check to verify that our mail has been stopped, to watch for any suspicious activity around our home and let them know how long we will be gone.
There are a LOT of activities available - some are just fellowship type activities so you can reach out and have someone to talk to (Monday morning coffee served at the clubhouse), monthly luncheons at a restaurant and you can do as many or little as you want. They just threw out a new idea - want to start one of those "neighbors helping neighbors" type volunteer clubs. You sign up to do whatever it is you may be willing to do - drive ppl to doctor appts, call and check on neighbors daily, pick up groceries for them, etc There are a TON of single women in our community, most came here with a husband for an easier lifestyle and when their spouse died, they were already in a place they could remain. Change was HARD for me to accept but I feared living out in the country, falling in my home and no one finding me for a long time. You may be at the point where you need to rethink where you are located - I miss the gorgeous countryside but my situation/life changed and I decided I needed to make a lifestyle change to meet my new situation. I see ppl out walking ALL the time and there are one or two that require a walker and I notice a pendant around their necks and they have a cellphone with them - I'm guessing the chances of something happening while they are out and someone not finding them would be slim to none.
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