EXTREMELY WORRIED ABOUT NEIGHBOUR! What to do???!

She could be going through any number of things. She sounds very unwell, like it could be a psychosis - you should definitely report the information until you're happy that the right people know about this. Poor lady.

Be prepared fir nobody official to do anything straight away if you do report, things need to be checked and repeated.

There was increasing concern about my retired Oxbridge professor neighbour, culminating in the vicar needing to rugby tackle her as she tried to break into the primary school. She was then sectioned.

I’d follow her back to her flat and try to get her name. Agree with pp offer her something to eat or warm clothing.

I wouldn’t report her to social services yet in case she works this out and then doesn’t trust you.

I agree with pps, this sounds more like an untreated mental health condition rather than dementia. She needs in patient psychiatric help and sooner rather than later.

It is good you’re looking out for her. The world needs more people like you.

perhaps she has stopped taking her medication
you have been given numbers to call so hope that will work

Is it possible she’s a crack addict? They often spend a lot of time looking for discarded cigarettes and picking up things from the ground thinking they’re cigarettes

Poor woman! I thought it sounds like my mum for a moment but she doesn't dig in rubbish or ask for cigarettes. I'd absolutely report it, it definitely sounds like she needs some support or even if it's known that she's unwell they need to know that she's not coping alone

Any chance she has picked up bad habits? Alot of the behaviour sounds like my elderly neighbour, who is an alcoholic drug addict. His behaviour gets alot worse when he is really off the rails.

I would also say adult social care. I know someone with dementia who is obsessed with bins, but they are much older and it’s obvious in other ways too. The knocking and leaving may be because she remembers knocking but can’t remember why perhaps. Do you think she would let you put a jumper round her?

I think this is best idea.

It’s always best to ask people if they need any help rather than report them to authorities. But if you’ve tried several times and she won’t talk to you, adult social care at your local authority.

If it’s a council or housing association block you could also inform your landlord that you’re concerned for her welfare.

If you can do so safely, try to work out what her flat is and her name. Then report your concerns to social services and the police. It sounds more a release of mental health condition to me. Sadly there are many people who should really be receiving treatment in hospital who are left languishing ‘in the community’. I had a neighbour who was clearly very unwell, screaming and shouting at imagined intruders, mice caused by rubbish but no one would do anything for him until he was very unwell for a physical reason and he was admitted to hospital. But he was still soon out again. I still think of him now I’ve moved and hope he is doing better.

You are right to be very worried for her wellbeing. (Especially in the cold in inadequate clothing.) I think you should call adult social services and potentially the police and request a welfare check. She sounds very ill, poor thing. (If she doesn’t live alone, she may be being abused, too - the knocking thing may be her reaching out for help.)

Good idea!

I would contact the police. She possibly has dementia and isn't being looked after by anybody if dressed scantily in winter.
If you want to try and help you could give her something to put on, even a shawl of blanket or a warm jumper or coat or hat if you happen to have one to spare.
She may searching for food, I'd try and offer her a snack if you spot her again.
Is she barefoot?
I feel so much worry for the homeless or helpless persons outside eating trash. 😩

This. And well done for looking after your neighbour.

I came to say it could be low functioning schizophrenia.

Ring Adult Social care at your local council and tell them that you want to report a safeguarding concern.
You could alternatively ring the Police and ask for a concern for welfare check but they will pass it over to social services to sort any issues out.
Well done for acting on your concerns.

Call your local authority adult social care service and ask for advice.

Can you follow her back to her flat? Then ring adult social care.

Contact your local social work team, ask for Adult Support and Protection (or whatever the equivalent is where you live). Just do an online search for your local council's contact details.

Having worked in old age psychiatry, it sounds like schizophrenia but I suppose it could be a dementia presentation.

I would contact police 101 with all you’ve said here, plus the photo and precise location and your contact details.They should be able to identify which flat is hers and then do a welfare check. She is most likely known to some sort of govt organisation already.

Follow her( discretely) back to her flat, if possible. And as suggested above give adult social services a call.

Is there any kind of concierge service in your building? Are flats individually owned or are they council or housing association? Does postie deliver to individual flats or to a communal area? Just trying to think of anyone who might have more knowledge of who lives where which would be useful if you're contacting social care or police.

Look up your local authority adult safeguarding number. You can ring or report online. See if someone else in the building knows her name.

You can get various dementias in 50s, or it could be that she is not on appropriate medication, but the main thing is it sounds like neglect : you can see she is inappropriately dressed for the weather, youve seen a decline in her behaviour, and is she digging in bins because she is hungry? Are there other neighbours who have seen her and could help you raise concerns?