How Would You Handle It?

The neighbors on one side of my house have been there for many years. I was friendly with the couple, mostly the man. We talked whenever we were both outside, usually working on our yards.

A few years back he retired because of COPD. I had never heard of it until then, but  they are both smokers. He continued to smoke outside, even after he start taking breathing treatments. Last year, he started taking oxygen. We discussed it one day. Sometimes I need a cane for my balance issues and usually not. He said it was the same way with the oxygen.

I had talked to the son about 6 months ago when he lost his job. I'm not observant, not paying attention to cars, but a black pickup was parked in front of their house, so I figured he'd moved home.

Last month there were some different vehicles parked in front of the house and I saw two different women come out to their cars. Then last week the son drove up while the vehicle I thought was his was parked in the usual spot.

I'm thinking there would be no reason to have a nurse there for hours a day unless he's in bad shape. The few times I've seen him have been from a distance and he was toting his oxygen around then.

I've never been inside their home and have never invited them inside mine. It's fall so there won't be much yardwork going on over there. They've been hiring someone to mow the yard. Other than catching one of them as they come or go, I won't be able to ask about his condition.

Another friend died recently after being in hospice care for a few weeks before I heard anything. I'd hate for this neighbor to be dying and not do or say something to the family until afterwards.

Can anyone think of a tactful way I could knock on the door or ask the strange women how he is doing? I never thought approaching a neighbor would be so hard.

While I'm broke, I do have some giftcards that I was planning on using for birthdays or Christmas. I could use one of those to buy flowers or a decoration if I needed to. I haven't given them but one gift in all these years, but somehow I don't think they'd mind.

How would you handle it? Should I just mind my own business until I can catch one outside?