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Original poster

Worried about elderly neighbour

119 replies

CaptainCallisto · 12/07/2016 20:39

I'm really concerned about my neighbour. Her dog has been barking for over an hour, and he's usually really placid and only barks if someone is at the door. I know she's in because her car is there (she isn't too steady on her pins so always takes the car) but she's not answering the door...

I had a quick look through the living room window, but I couldn't see anything, except that the tv is on.

I've just called the police (non-emergency) to see what they suggested, and they're going to send someone over. I'm just so worried she's fallen, or worse, and I can't get in to help!

Feeling very helpless Sad

OP posts:
TheEmmaDilemma · 12/07/2016 21:51

Well done OP, and Frank. Many people would have done nothing.

Palomb · 12/07/2016 21:50

You are a wonderful person :) well done

peppercold · 12/07/2016 21:50

Really lovely to hear O.P glad she has you next door and of course Frank Flowers

HelloCanYouHearMe · 12/07/2016 21:48

Dont feel bad OP - you did the right thing. Flowers

DrRanjsRightEyebrow · 12/07/2016 21:48

It would have been awful if she didn't have a caring neighbour like yourself. Well done OP. And a juicy bone for that loyal Frank.

Absentmindedwoman · 12/07/2016 21:47

You were great, you did all you could! I hope you feel better soon.

sparechange · 12/07/2016 21:47

Please don't beat yourself up, OP
You've done amazingly to respond so quickly to something out of the ordinary that many others would have overlooked

An hour isn't long. My granny fell over and pressed her pendant alarm, and it took several hours to get to her by the time they'd tracked down the keyholder and let themselves in

Well done you, and well done Frank for raising the alarm. A proper Lassie job, there

talllikejerryhall · 12/07/2016 21:45

How lucky she is to have a neighbour like you Flowers

Catzpyjamas · 12/07/2016 21:45

Well done Callisto and Frank !
With different, less caring neighbours, she would have been there for an awful lot longer. You did a very good thing, OP.

NervousRider · 12/07/2016 21:44

Not much consolation but some poor folk have laid for many many hours before being discovered so the fact that you noticed so promptly is commendable.

She is lucky to have you as a neighbour. Just be cautious with how much you want to help and do for her when she gets out of hospital as it can quickly escalate

MadameCholetsDirtySecret · 12/07/2016 21:44

Well done OP and super well done Frank.

starving · 12/07/2016 21:43

An hour really isn't that long. Some people wait a lot longer, days, weeks... before someone does something. Flowers for doing something, hopefully she recovers quickly.

Penfold007 · 12/07/2016 21:43

Neighbours like you are worth their weight in gold, well done. I hope she makes a speedy recovery and Frank enjoys his holiday with you, he's a super star dog.

bigbluebus · 12/07/2016 21:43

Well done for being so alert to your neighbours movements and calling the police so soon. My DM once fell in the middle of the night (no idea what time) and lay on the floor unable to get up until lunchtime before she was found by a nurse who called to do a blood test and couldn't get in so alerted a neighbour who had a key. Thank goodness she was due a blood test that day.

Scribblegirl · 12/07/2016 21:42

Well done you wonderful person Flowers

raeray · 12/07/2016 21:41

Ahh clever Frank - I'm not an animal fan at all if I'm honest but the thought of him doing that to help his owner has bought a little tear to my eye!
Well done OP for trusting your instinct and calling police, you've saved your neighbour. Don't feel bad about the hour that's just one of those things. You sound a lovely neighbour Flowers

TallulahTheTiger · 12/07/2016 21:41

Well done OP! When she is in hosp mention to her family to speak to someone in discharge planning about telecare falls alerts.

jpclarke · 12/07/2016 21:40

Please try not to feel awful, if you hadn't of called the police she could of been there all night or more. I heard this happening a lady lately, she was in a very bad way by the time they got to her.

Original poster
CaptainCallisto · 12/07/2016 21:39

It never occurred to me to ask her for a key 'just in case'. I shall definitely see if we can arrange something now.

Thanks all for the virtual hand hold. I'm surprised at how shaken I am!

OP posts:
PenelopePitstops · 12/07/2016 21:39
Flowers

You did the right thing. You weren't to know. You sound lovely.

NeedACleverNN · 12/07/2016 21:37

You couldn't have known Flowers

Don't beat yourself up about it. At least you did something!

You deserve a large glass of wine and that dog needs a bone

Original poster
CaptainCallisto · 12/07/2016 21:36

Just spoken to the police. She's had a fall in the bathroom and they think she's broken her hip. I wish I'd called them sooner; the poor thing has been lying there over an hour Sad

Her daughter lives abroad but is apparently going to come home as soon as possible. Neighbour has asked if we can look after the dog until her DD gets here.

I feel so awful that I waited so long to call the police... Sad

OP posts:
AGreatBigWorld · 12/07/2016 21:32

We have an elderly lady who lives opposite us. DS2 has adopted her as his Grandma. Her son works in the day so I have the spare door key and am on her alarm. Will never forget the morning I turned the corner and saw the ambulance outside hers. The poor dog has never moved down the road so fast in his life. Her other son was there and I went in. The ambulance staff assumed I was her daughter and neither she or her ds told them I wasn't which made me feel very emotional. She didn't have a suitcase so she borrowed mine and I packed her suitcase for her. The only reason I didnt/ couldn't go in the ambulance was because like her ds I had to go to work. She was home in a few days and ds2 is very fortunate to have her as well as my mum!

bluebelle2662 · 12/07/2016 21:24

Hope your neighbour is ok

KittensWithWeapons · 12/07/2016 21:20

OP, thank you so, so much for looking out for your neighbour. My Nan is old and frail and lives alone, I can only hope that she has neighbours like you. You absolutely did the right thing, and I hope your neighbour is okay Flowers

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