What would you do if this was your neighbour?

[needingadviceandthoughts]

Neighbour - elderly man, moved into area about 4 months ago. He doesn't really speak to anyone, doesn't look up if he is outside which is rare. Late Saturday night there was an ambulance there for about 40 mins. Couldn't see if he went with them or not. Don't think so as both paramedics sat in the front.
Next day Sunday we put a note through his door saying we noticed ambulance , if he needs any groceries or help please call.
No response to this and no sign of him. No bins out yesterday or today. Husband knocked at door but no answer.
What would you do now?

Another thought, if you know his name 'John Smith' or whatever, call your local hospital. They 'might' tell you, 'ahh yes, he is on ward XYZ' and put you through to the nurses desk on the ward. You'd then at least know if he is there.
Note- they might not tell you though.

@needingadviceandthoughts
My husband and I have a tenant who has lived in one of our flats for over 25 years. He hasn’t been well these past few years and we’ve been keeping an eye on him, getting him shopping, prescriptions and been a point of contact for his GP. My husband went to see him last week and there was no reply, he went back later and still no reply. We phoned our local hospital and he hadn’t been admitted so we called the police. Our elder son is a GP and had told us that when this happened that is what we should do and that we shouldn’t let ourselves in. So we called the police and they sent officers out, this should happen with your neighbour. Sadly our tenant had died as we suspected. The police need to do a welfare check, that’s part of their job.

We don't even know his name. Even my husband is saying today he thinks he might call 101. I thought I was doing the right thing by calling our one ( he has clinics, promotes neighbourhood watch etc. It's a village, not a town or city) now I'm overthinking and what if he sees this as going over his head etc. it's terrible to feel this way about people who should help. We will go over to house again and let the other neighbours know police did not get back to us.

Could you ring the A and E department at your local hospital to see if he was admitted. They will have a record of the ambulance that was sent out. Explain what you've said here. At least you will know if he is in hospital. If he isn't I would go and knock on his door and say loudly who you are and that you are checking to see if he is ok. Look through his downstairs windows to check.

If no answer then ring 101. At least that way you have done everything you can.

It's very difficult with elderly people because if they don't want to go to hospital they can't be forced. He may be deaf and can't hear the door, or he may not have needed hospital but is ill in bed or he could have fallen over.

I would feel the same as you.

He said that in future call 101 but they will only come out if " there is a threat to life" and that this time he would come and knock if he " was available".

He told you to call 101 so do that. You have no way to know if this idiot has had any availability yet, he might not have gone round yet. I'm sure 101 would know if he has been round. Call them.

You could try ambulance sometimes they attend welfare checks 😊

We had this with our elderly neighbour opposite a few years ago. He would put his bins out and everyday at the same time would take a little walk to the end of the road and back for some fresh air. On bin day we noticed his bins hadn't been put out. Knocked the door, no answer. He didn't appear for his usual walk and we became concerned about him. Asked our local police to do a welfare check and they were at the house within 15 mins of our call. They knocked and shouted for him. No answer. They broke in through the back door and went inside the house. He was found dead in bed. Died peacefully in his sleep. Was a real shock to our little street. But we are glad we raised the alarm and followed our gut feelings.

You have done the right thing asking for him to be checked on and keep pressuring if you are still concerned.

Have you spoken to the neighbours who were there with the torches?

If he has passed away there could potentially be a cat in there starving to death if it cant access outside.

Just call the police. Better safe than sorry.

If they are complying with data protection law they certainly won't tell you which ward he is on, let alone confirm he is there!

I may have missed this so apologies if I have, but, have you actually knocked on his door or just put a note through?

Both.

I would definitely call the police. Forget your local one - he's not done enough. Call 101 and say you fear for the welfare of a vulnerable person.

You could also call e.g. the RSPCA and say you believe a cat has been locked alone inside a property for X days, they might attend the property (they can get a warrant to search and attend with police), though this may be a long process.

Failing that, maybe 'find' a broken window and say the property has been broken into/burglary in process/enter yourself..

Very kind of you to be looking out for him

I would rung 101. I imagine they could check re ambulance attendance/possible hospital admission and then welfare call if not.

I have a few properties and one of my tenants recently dropped dead too. It was quite awful, she was only 36. Welfare checks are invaluable.

I've contacted the local guy again to see what/if he's done anything.

@needingadviceandthoughts

OP please just contact the police directly. If this man has sadly died there is an animal in that house potentially starving to death.

@needingadviceandthoughts

you need to call the police, above this guys head as he isn't helping.

Either he or the cat needs someone.

What if you call the RSPCA and say you think there is a cat trapped inside with no food?
If they come out they maybe able to work out what’s going on and put things in motion.

This is why I said they 'might' not say. When I've called 2, different hospital recently about my relatives, they did indeed tell me which wards they were on and offered to put me through to their bedside phone or the nurses station.
It was just another option to try if the OP was worried about calling the police!

Did you not even read the first post in its entirety before posting your suggestion? Op makes it clear they’ve done both.

Can you ring 101 and ask the police to do a welfare check, and then follow up in the morning as ask if it has been assigned yet
The police can check records from the ambulance to see if he is admitted
I wouldn't bother with the local police officer if they are being unhelpful
The police have the grounds to force entry if they need to

I don’t understand. You are simultaneously very concerned but also passive. I know that if I was really worried I would be calling 999 and explaining the situation because, actually, there is a potential threat to life. Imagine if this poor old man has been lying on the floor dying while you knock on his door, put notes through and message the useless community support officer!

I'd ring101 straight away - and take the community support person out of the equation. They will ensure the right checks are done.