Worried about neighbour and dont know what to do??

loulou123

Hello firstly sorry this is really off topic, but didnt know where else to ask.

Basically i have elderly neighbours (a old couple) one in particular is in very bad health, but as many old people do they struggle on without any outside help-visiting carers etc.

Yesterday when i came home from work, i noticed that their curtains were all shut, apart from their kitchen ones (this one looks into my flat) and the kitchen light was on, they could have been like this in the morning when i went to work i really didnt notice.

Today the lights still on (been on all night and they always shut the kitchen curtains once its dark, which they havent.) and all the other curtains still shut.

I have tried knocking on door, but there is no answer.

Yesterday evening there was a ambulance parked outside their house (have no idea if this is connected to them, as there are a lot of care homes in my road, so ambulances a frequent sight.)

Before when one of them has been unwell and taken into hospital, they have come to ask me to feed there cat and check in on them once a day but this time nothing. They do have family locally but they dont tend to see them apart from weekends and i have no contact details for them.

There just doesnt seem to be a scenerio that makes sense, if one of them was in hospital the other would still be in the house and equally if something had happened to one of them (in the house) that would still leave the other.

Im worried for them and the cat, as, as far as i can see nothing has changed in the house for over 24 hours - possibly since monday evening.

Just dont know what to do - dont feel i can call police and say im worried about my neighbours as theyve left there light on! Anyone got any advice?

kazwookie

Go and knock on the door again louder and see what happens.

Maybe when you do make contact with them ask for the family contact phone number, failing that do ring the police and see what they suggest or maybe the local hopsital and see if they have your neighbours there, (but they may not tell you, unless you are family)

flutterby_lil

How lovely that theyhave got you to worry about them and have noticed things don't seem right. Maybe social services might be a place to contact? Failing that then is there a housing warden? and if that fails then maybe the police might be the only way forward.

Good luck, hope they have just forgotten to turn the light off and are away for a few days.

The suggestion of a contact number for their relatives is a good one.

Take care

F_L

covlass

They are very lucky to have you if only there were more people like you in this world!
Do as one poster suggests, go knock the door & shout through the letter box, if there is no response then I would call the police, I am sure the police will not mind once they know you have made attempts to see if they answer the door, and explain that it is not normal for them to keep curtains closed lights on.

loulou123

Have tried knocking on both front and back doors several times, but in saying that the elderly lady is very deaf, if she misplaces her hearing aid-which she does regulary!

Have asked them for a contact number before (when ive been looking after the cat, but they always "forget" to give me one,) think they are both very proud people and do not want to admit they need help etc.)

Hadnt considered social services, so thats an idea, and its their own privately owned house so no housing warden etc.

If it was just one of them living their alone, id be much more inclined to have called the police by now, but i just cant believe that something would have happened to them both at exactly the same time.

Sambucus_Nigra

I had the same problem last year when my neighbour died - he was 90 and left his 94 year old wife there on her own.

I put a card through the letterbox with our number in big writing - and said 'call if you need anything'.....and she did to say thank you and hopefully, left the number by the phone. She has someone around every day to take her out and we keep an ear out just in case we hear any 'help me' type cries during the evening.

covlass

sound sill but have you seen the cat?
If you are still unsure about calling the police have you knocked their neighbors both sides? (or above/below if a flat) Id there a local shop close by they go to may be ask them if they have been in.

jcr16

i'd be inclined to go round and try one more time. can you see through the window to see if there anysign of life. i'd then knock to another neighbours door and ask if they have seen or heard from them. failing that i'd 101 it. and say how concerned you are and could they just check on them.

Gothicfairy

If it were me I think I would call the police, explain why you are worried and ask them to come round, I know that there is plenty said about the police and not being around for crime etc but they do come out for things like this and can gain access to the property or check the hospitals quicker then you can.

MyRubyRed

Gothicfairy wrote: »

If it were me I think I would call the police, explain why you are worried and ask them to come round, I know that there is plenty said about the police and not being around for crime etc but they do come out for things like this and can gain access to the property or check the hospitals quicker then you can.

I would agree with the above post.

Counting_Pennies_2

Police really don't mind these types of calls. Call them. The longer you delay the worse the situation could get