Should I be worried about this neighbour?

[gonewithtthewind]

Posting in this section as I wasn't sure where to post!

I dunno if I'm just being silly, pregnancy hormones could be playing a part in my worry!

I live in a cul de sac - the house which is opposite me to the right has an old man who lives there, I think he lives on his own but I'm honestly not sure. I've never spoken to him, a lot of my neighbours are older so they all do seem to talk to each other so I've kind of told myself if they aren't worried then I shouldn't be but I'm not sure?

Basically he always opens his blinds early in the morning, around 7am and doesn't shut them until really late. He also obviously has lights on at night time. He does have nurses go in sometimes but I'm honestly not sure how often that is. This sounds like I've been stalking him I know but you just pick up on these things, especially since I'm home all the time now!

The past 3 days he hasn't opened his blinds once, no windows have been opened, he hasn't been out to mow the grass (which he does multiple times a week) and no lights have been on. His security alarm is still flashing from 3 days ago when we had a power cut! I don't know if I'm just overthinking this? Like he could have gone on holiday? I don't know but he doesn't seem to have any family it seems and his car is still outside. I keep worrying something has happened to him! I think I'm going to go and ask the neighbours today when they're out because they do talk so surely theyd know if he's just on holiday or if we should be worried about him? I feel so silly and my partner has told me I'm overthinking it! Does anyone know if there is anything else I should or could do? Should I even be worried or am I just being silly?

Oh no that does sound concerning. I hope he had just gone to stay with family or something.

I really hope he’s ok. I’m so glad you decided to check.

I am pleased you checked - my sons boss was found dead in her bed by the police. None of the neighbours checked on her it was her work colleagues that popped round as she didn’t call into work. Not saying this is the situation here but your a good neighbour

Have you noticed if the carers have still been attempting to visit? If they haven't been coming then it hopefully just means he's gone away for a few days and they've got the time off but if you've seen them knocking and getting no answer then yes, it's worrying. You've done the right thing OP.

My Dad died at home alone. He lived in Spain, having emigrated there after my Mum died. His next door neighbour went in as Dad didn't answer the door when he knocked on a Monday to take him to his GP for tests. We don't know if he died Saturday or Sunday as his neighbour last saw him on the Friday before. It was a sudden heart attack.

I realised immediately one Sunday morning that the very sweet, elderly lady opposite was in trouble when she didn't open her bedroom curtains. Her next door neighbour had a key, he waited downstairs whilst I checked on her, she had died peacefully in her sleep....

This happened to my uncle - we live a distance away and a neighbour had an agreement with him that if his bathroom curtains were still closed after a certain time, she would knock on the door. The curtains were closed, she knocked and phoned with no reply, so she rang me. I rang with no reply so I rang the police and was put through to the police in his area who said they would do a welfare check.

They did and sadly he had died - we think the night before whilst watching TV because he was in his armchair and the TV was still on. The police informed my local police who called round to break the news - and then I had to go to my mother's house to tell her that her brother had died.

So I was grateful to the neighbour or he might have lain there until we phoned him the following weekend.

You're a good neighbour, hope it's not what it sounds like. Perhaps he's in hospital.

OP I’m glad you spoke to others. I hope all is ok

Well done for checking 😊

Well done for phoning the police, absolutely the right thing to do having noticed he’s not opening his curtains etc.

My grandmother 's neighbour was concerned her curtains were still drawn across at a time when normally they would have been open, and found her dead.

That’s a lovely thing for you to do. Let’s hope that he’s ok or maybe has gone into hospital and the other neighbours didn’t know.

What a nice caring person you are. Fingers crossed all is well.

Well done OP. You are a good neighbour 💐

Glad you did something, hope it's good news but sadly think it won't be.

You've done the right thing. My mum's neighbour rang me a few weeks ago because my mum hadn't opened her curtains by 9am! I'd already spoken to my mum that morning and knew she was keeping her windows and curtains closed because of the heatwave. I was immensely grateful that her neighbour was looking out for her so vigilantly. I see my mum 4 or 5 times a week and speak to her twice a day on the phone, but it's still so reassuring to know she has people who care right on her doorstep.

Keep caring!

Maybe he has gone into hospital, hence the package of care is not going in and doing their visits, and blinds not opened / post still in letterbox

You've done the right thing, so glad you checked. Really hoping he's OK and is maybe just staying with family or in hospital for a few days.

Probably in hospital but good you've called the police.

Well done you. I hope he is ok.

Just wanted to say you've done the right thing- this happened to my late FIL, he was actually on holiday with my DH at the time and I got a 5am visit from the police but I was glad someone was checking on him.

When I worked in a nursing home we had a fair few people come to us after they'd fallen at home and neighbours finding them, sometimes after they'd been there a few days. It's always good to check

At first thought I thought he may have his blinds shut in mourning for the queen (you never know). Keeping curtains and blinds shut to mourn is pretty common practice, more so in the older generation I believe. On my grandpas funeral day, I went to my grandmothers beforehand and all her curtains were shut, I knew this was often done but I was asked if I had left mine shut at home and I honestly hadn't. I didn't live in the same area and didn't think. But as you've seen no other indicators of being home like maybe not 🤷‍♀️

You can ask neighbours but maybe knock yourself or perhaps ring the non emergency police line who may do a welfare check? (I'm not really sure how it works).

maybe he could be off on his holidays.

or maybe he could be on hospital?

I think asking a neighbour would be a good shout.

I hope he is okay!