Elderly neighbour standing outside her house for long time

[Cattus]

Hi. My next door neighbour has been standing outside her house for at least 4 hours. I’ve come I’ve come in and out by car 4 times in that time and seen her in the same position, standing still outside her front gate.

Is this something someone might do when they’re becoming confused? Want to go and check she’s ok, but do it right so I can get help if she needs it. WWYD?

Yes I think she does need help and is probably confused.

Not sure about the right way to deal with it though.

Could you ring the local GP or NHS to ask their advice? Or do you have a number for a family member?

Hope she's ok

I'd def go check on them. Could she be locked out and not kno what to do about it?

Bring her in for a cup of tea? Contact Local council or GP surgery while she is safe to find out who needs to come and check her

Just go and say hello and ask her if she's OK. I don't think she is. If you can get her into your house or hers then do so and get her to give you the details of somebody to call. If she's too confused for that, you will have to call an ambulance.

Just go say hi to her and say "you've been there a while, do you need a hand with anything".... just get her talking. From there, you can figure out if she's in need of help.

Go and ask her if she needs any help

It sounds like she needs help. I had a neighbour like this and ended up taking her back inside quite often. Her own environment might be better for her than taking her into your house.

Please go and ask how she is or if she is okay. She could just be locked out and waiting for someone but please check.

Go and talk to her. Help her back in, contact family. My aunt started to do this - she would stand somewhere as she couldn't remember what she was doing or where she was

Yes just go over and say hi, and ask if she needs any help.

Do go and speak to her. Four hours is a long time to be standing outside, there's something wrong.

Please do go and speak to her. That Is a long time to be stood outside for.

You have left her with out checking for 4 hours? I would most certainly check on her. Confusion and things like this can be a sifn of a stroke. Hopefully shes ok but cant harm to check. Maybe see if theres any family etc u can call even if she insists shes ok as it is not normal behaviour and would raise alarm bells for me tbh.

Please just go and ask her if she's okay. She might be waiting for a delivery and is worried she'll miss it. Alternatively, she may be struggling with memory problems/confusion and is uncertain about what to do next.

There's nothing to lose by checking up on her.

Hi all.i spoke to her at 12.15 and she said she was waiting for a taxi which was due between 12.30 and 1. I said, “you’ve been waiting a long time,” and she replied that she liked to be outside as it’s boring to be stuck in.
Later in the afternoon, I couldn’t see her. I will have a word with her family, I think.

"she replied that she liked to be outside as it’s boring to be stuck in"

My next door neighbours aren't elderly and frail but they are retired age and have the odd health complaint, one of them always has to be at home with their dog and they practically live in their front garden. They collar anyone who passes for a chat so my first thought was is she lonely.

She surely can't have been stood all that time for a taxi so she was either confused or just did truly want to stop looking at the same four walls. Either way I think you are right to have a chat with her family.

I have spoken to her brother in law. She has vascular dementia and a poor understanding of time. She does have a taxi appt on that day but doesn’t realise she’s gone out to wait too early. She has a great family support system in place and he has told me to feel free to encourage her back in if she’s out waiting too early.

You sound lovely op

One of my friends went to pick up her mum (with early stages dementia) for an appointment and she thinks her mum had been waiting in the porch all night.

Heartbreaking!