Aunts friendship with young couple

She’s only 70 ! Sounds like she has lovely neighbours. They come from countries where people value their elderly relatives, maybe they can see she has no one close by and want to help her out. Like a pp said pop and see them next time you visit just to reassure yourself.

First post nails it

Meant to say this was mid-late 20s for me. They reminded me of my grandparents.

When my son was doing his finals he said that the Greek girls in the next flat, came into his room which was an unholy mess. They said he needed a shower, told him to use theirs. Take a long time please. When he came out they'd cleaned his room, grabbed his dirty washing, gone to the laundry area and stuffed it all in. They then made him a meal after that they often cooked for him. And Gen mothered him

My other son had a girlfriend in Italy. In the village she lived in three generations or more lived together. Everyone mucked in Nonna down to bambina cooking, cleaning while the men worked the farmland.

It's cultural I think and quite lovely.

We're pretty good in Wales at helping each other out too.

i’m older than this couple, but until last year had a similar relationship with an older neighbour who lived alone. It started when she hurt her ankle and needed someone to walk her dog, then I began regularly walking the dog, picking up bits of shopping for her, and would often have a cup of tea with her or go for a pub lunch or Sunday roast together. My DP would help her with stuff that needed a heavy lift or tall person.

Like your aunt, she would sometimes gift me things (bottle of wine, fancy biscuits type stuff) as a thank you and I told her to quit it or I would stop walking the dog! She had a lovely garden and instead would often give me bunches of flowers from it which I accepted graciously.

She moved away last year and I miss her and her lovely dog - we keep in touch via WA now. She had adult children but they didn’t live locally. I hope they didn’t think there was anything untoward going on.

I've done similar for elderly neighbours before and continued to go back and visit after I moved. I enjoyed their company and them mine. I helped clear their house when they moved to sheltered accomodation and sat with both when they were dying. Absolutely no ulterior motives at all. I'd go up and meet them next time you're there, or invite them and your aunt out for lunch. Get to know them, put your mind at rest. Having good neighbours as you get older is a god-send.

They might not have much family in London and be missing their extended families back home, and your aunt provides company to them.

"I also encourage my son who lives in London to go and visit her although he seldom does."

How nice that your lovely aunt has someone that likes to visit her.

It’s a shame that this is regarded oddly. When I was a student in a flat share with my 20 something mates we had an elderly lady in her 90s in the downstairs flat and we used to look out for her, post letters, get shopping, put her laundry and her bins in and out for her. We did it just because she was a sweet old lady on her own and she reminded us of our grandmas. We’d have tea and a chat with her sometimes and look at her old photo albums. Then one day she had a stroke and went into a care home and we took it in turns to visit her there too until she passed away. No idea who inherited but it wasn’t any of us and it was very far from our minds. I do have a little trinket box that she gave me once because I admired it (I don’t think it’s of any value except sentimental) We honestly just liked her. RIP Winnie.

When I was in my early 20s my BF of the time developed a lovely friendship with my grandfather who was mid 80s - even after we split up he continued to visit, do odd jobs for him etc
When he died a few years later my DM asked him if he wanted anything from the house as a memento and he asked for a small side table (of no great value) ad they used to sit there together and share a whisky and cigarette
I have also had many age gap friendships usually with older ladies and expect nothing other than their company

Nothing you’ve said sounds suspicious, although the help booking a holiday online would involve her paying something, and if it’s on their device the card details could be saved. That’s the only thing that jumped out. I like to think that 99% of people have only good intentions which does leave us with 1%. Id go up and introduce myself to them - you’ll get a feel for the situation when meeting them.

They sound like lovely neighbours and it sounds like they enjoy each other's company a bit. Keep an eye on things but assuming your aunt isn't demented or otherwise vulnerable, I think she is lucky to have such neighbours. If she does decide to leave them something one day that's nice too although if she is only seventy she may well have another twenty years yet.

Sounds like they are just being neighbourly, my husband and I help our elderly neighbour who is widowed, we don't mind helping as her children live far away, and can't be there on a daily basis.

I think it's ok to introduce yourself and thank them, perhaps exchange numbers, but feel we live in rather sad times when a nice deed is considered to have ulterior motives.

Keep an eye on the situation but I wouldn't be suspicious. Me and my husband (early 30s) have had a similar relationship with our elderly neighbour who lives alone for about 5 years now. We help him a lot with his shopping, doctors appointments, keeping him company etc. He has offered us money for doing things for him but we don't accept it, we just like him and don't want him to struggle on his own.

Listen to a few of the Shadow World podcasts on BBC Sounds and see if that helps at all - I too would be very suspicious!

I can understand why you may be weary but they may be genuine. She goes off on holidays and is active, sounds like she’s ok.

I take a lady in our village out often, I buy her shopping and pick up her medication. She doesn’t have children and we are very isolated where we live. We both enjoy each others company.

When I was in my 20s not only did I help my single elderly neighbour I also sat with him in hospital when he sadly passed away, his small family were also scattered around the country. I also looked out for an elderly neighbour whose daughter lived in another country. Nothing dodgy about it and no money changed hands. Some young people actually like elderly people, in my case it was because both of them reminded me of my Grandparents.

I’d be cautious in your shoes too OP-my aunt was befriended by a young couple and she ended up giving them loads of money. She’d always been very sharp and should have seen through them but she had early onset dementia and no one had realised. It’s probably time you met this couple, at least to give yourself peace of mind that they’re genuine.

My nephew is a postman and has a very rural round. Little old ladies bake him cakes, home made biscuits and make him a cup of tea and he collects their prescriptions from the chemists and drops them in for them. It's good to offer help when you can.

I agree with @FuzzyWolf, introduce yourself to them and warmly thank them for helping your auntie, especially as they did more when she was unwell.

You’ll get a sense of what they’re like and if they are dodgy ( which they probably aren’t), it’ll let them know that you keep an eye on your auntie iyswim.

❤️ this is lovely

Given they live in the same building, why don’t you pop upstairs to thank them and exchange numbers. I’d talk to them on the assumption they are being genuine but you will soon know if it’s not.

I think you should be happy for her that she has friends who are nearby and can be relied upon as good friends should. I am in my 40s and have similar friendships with some of my neighbours. I’d be horrified if I thought any of their relatives thought I had suspicions intentions!
You may be her closest relative but you don’t own her life. Feeling protective is good but don’t try to control or curb her.

We have a 90 year old next door neighbour that we take care of. We pick up bits of shopping, DH does odd jobs in her house, and we pop in on her daily and have a cup of tea as she lives alone and has no family apart from a niece and nephew. They both live locally and rarely visit. We help her with admin and making calls and appointments but won’t help her with financial stuff. DH will give her a lift to the bank for day-to-day stuff, but won’t get involved in anything involving finances.

We do it because we feel sorry for her and she’s a lovely lady. I’d be very upset if her family thought that we were on the make. Especially as they don’t put themselves out to help her.

Your aunt’s neighbours sound like a lovely young couple and you should be very grateful to them and relieved that she’s got people looking out for her.

I think you're projecting a bit here because your son, who is a similar age, to this couple doesn't bother with his great aunt. Yet this unrelated couple do care for your aunt and you think they're after her money. Would you rather they didn't bother like your son and left her alone?