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Original poster

URGENT.. Who do I contact in this situation?

51 replies

BluntCat · 16/09/2025 20:51

Two weeks ago I was on my way home from the cinema, I stopped off at my local shop just before it closed at 11pm, when I came out I saw an elderly lady wandering in the road, She was naked. The road is on the same road as a sheltered living place so I asked if she lived in there, She said yes but couldn't tell me which flat was hers, she also kept mentioning children, as in 'I can't go back in my flat because the children are in there' 'The little children look at me when I'm on the sofa' etc

I knocked on a few flat doors and nobody knew who she was so i called the police, they came out and I left.

Saw her twice more and called the police again as she was naked again and in the road in the dark, she is very confused and kept saying she doesn't know where she lives etc, Called the police each time because i didn't know what to do and i didn't want to just leave her. She does live in the sheltered place and the police have been taking her back to her flat each time.

Just seen her wandering passed my flat (a ten minute walk from the sheltered living place) There is supposed to be a manager on site but they are never there, the number on google just rings and rings with no answer.

Not sure what to do or who to contact, I can't just leave her. She is in her 80s and is acting like my nan did when she had demetia. Do I just keep phoning the police or is there something else i should be doing?

OP posts:
GreenFrogYellow · 16/09/2025 20:53

Call the police. I’d dial 999.

SallySuperTrooper · 16/09/2025 20:53

Contact the local adult safeguarding team?

TokyoSushi · 16/09/2025 20:53

I think just keep phoning the police as the quickest solution at this time of night, I’ve no idea of the system but surely they should make some sort of referral?

herbalteabag · 16/09/2025 20:53

I would phone the police again, there isn't really anything else you can do and she is vulnerable.

UnbeatenMum · 16/09/2025 20:54

Maybe an ambulance next time? If you know her name and address you could also report to adult social services.

yonem · 16/09/2025 20:56

My local council’s website has a form where you can submit a safeguarding concern to the adult social care team - maybe yours has something similar? Or could you call the council? It sounds like the sheltered accommodation isn’t suitable and she needs a higher level of care.

CMOTDibbler · 16/09/2025 20:56

The police will put in a safeguarding concern - they certainly contacted adult social services when my mum had to be brought back by them

yeesh · 16/09/2025 20:58

Contact the police every time, they will take her home & refer to social services and safeguarding.

FuzzyWolf · 16/09/2025 20:59

Police every time. They will be out to help her quicker than anyone else, will make sure she gets back to her home safety and it will all get reported.

SeaAndStars · 16/09/2025 21:00

You are so lovely to care so much for this lady.

Littletreefrog · 16/09/2025 21:00

Phone the police again. They will probably already have reported to adult social services but I imagine getting her into more suitable accomodation will take time unfortunately.

Kinneddar · 16/09/2025 21:02

Phone 999 everytime for the police. Also let them know how often its happening

FamingolosForDays · 16/09/2025 21:02

Call the police. Does the sheltered place have a name? Find out if they are registered with the CQC (You can find it on their website) and you can report it to them too. Police should notify safeguarding (local council website) but you can also do this yourself.

Florencesndzebedee · 16/09/2025 21:03

Agree police but also contact social services to say this is the 3rd/4th time, she’s naked etc. Also leave a note for the warden of the sheltered scheme. Did the woman give you her name?

Artifishal · 16/09/2025 21:05

Right now - police. She's vulnerable and it's a concern for welfare. Police each time you see her in that position.

Tomorrow - adult social care via your local council. And each and every time thereafter.

Get a log number from the police and pass this on to adult social care tomorrow too. It will help them join the dots in terms of identifying the woman. You would absolutely hope the police are reporting this as a safeguarding concern each time too, but you can't rely on that.

Jellycatspyjamas · 16/09/2025 21:07

The police are your best bet because they are staffed to respond, whereas emergency duty team at social work won’t be able to respond in person. You could also refer to social work yourself or raise a concern with whoever runs the sheltered housing.

WetBandits · 16/09/2025 21:09

Oh bless her Sad thank you for looking out for her. I would call the police again, and possibly also ask for an ambulance as she could be conveyed to a hospital as a place of safety given that her social situation has clearly broken down. She may also have a UTI/other infection that is causing or worsening her confusion. Are you in a position to invite her to your home to keep her warm until someone arrives to help?

Lavender14 · 16/09/2025 21:10

I'd call the police but I'd also raise a complaint with the provider of the sheltered accommodation. It doesn't sound like it's suitable for her needs any longer but it's worrying that she's not being better supported. A referral to the VA safeguarding team would also be appropriate and I'd ask the police if they've made a referral as well as this should be part of their process.

coxesorangepippin · 16/09/2025 21:11

Really?? The police, obviously

Ffshowcouldthishappen · 16/09/2025 21:12

The police are the only service which will offer immediate assistance.

They will report to adult social care, but personally I would also do so.

Does sound as though she has dementia and has reached the point where she cannot live independently.

Obeseandashamed · 16/09/2025 21:14

Call adult social care as it’s a safeguarding concern. The police taking her back is helpful in the short term but doesn’t solve the problem or get her help sadly.

TheDandyLion · 16/09/2025 21:14

Id call the police at the time and as it's happened more than once and she's from sheltered accommodation id report it to CQC.

Flakey99 · 16/09/2025 21:16

If the police have picked her up on several occasions already, shouldn’t they have done a safeguarding referral to social services? 🤔

reversegear · 16/09/2025 21:21

OP this is so sad but you can’t be the only person seeing this poor lady wandering around naked? Is nobody else around? Reporting this?

Ffshowcouldthishappen · 16/09/2025 21:25

Flakey99 · 16/09/2025 21:16

If the police have picked her up on several occasions already, shouldn’t they have done a safeguarding referral to social services? 🤔

They will have done, but due to cuts adult services are over stretched.

There is also the possibility that during the day the lady has capacity to make the decision about where her care needs are met and then experiences "sundowners" and loses capacity in the evening.

It's also possible that she has some one who has power of attorney and is not making the right decisions for her care - there's very little the local authority or police can do in that case.

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