V concerned about elderly neighbour

[NoFrills01]

We have a new neighbour, she is 91 and just got here from America, no family or friends, and she is renting the three story property which is over £1000+ a month.

We live in a rural area, there are buses, but still its a long walk to get around to anywhere, she obviously has no car.

She has no internet to set up a food delivery (what she wants to do) no phone, no bank account, and is struggling to work the gas cooker ect as she is from the states and things are a little different within the home.

I have a background in care, I find it a very odd situation. She seems frail, and she seems like she has early dementia to me.

I feel she is very vulnerable, I've offered to help all I can when I'm not working but she declines.

The house is the same as ours, and the stairs are steep. I'm worried we are the only ones who basically are checking in and would notice anything.

I'm not sure what to do. I think I need to gently ask a little more information, I'm worried about her health and welfare, and I'm not sure how she will keep up with bills or even pay them? It all seems so strange. She wasn't aware the bills are going up here, and she doesn't know how to work the heating and is currently just living off the microwave.

Remember similar at work, getting shouted at by this couple as there was no clinical need to admit the 80 odd year old dm to hospital, they were of course on their way to lanzarote for festive season and where else was she to go?! 🤔 said they of course pay their taxes so were entitled to do this!

Yes I agree. And think this is more likely than her having chosen to come from America to live here with no bank account etc. She sounds very vulnerable.

This doesn’t surprise me! My paediatric nurse friend told me that it’s quite common for parents to invent symptoms for their kids so they can leave them in a hospital ward and enjoy a weekend to themselves…

some people 🤯

@keha adult safeguarding also looks into people who are at risk of neglecting themselves. I know this as I work closely with adult social services.

@entropynow yes you can report to adult social care without a person’s knowledge if it’s a safeguarding concern . OP you’re getting a lot of wrong advice on this thread, you need to contact adult social services and they will point you in the right direction . Other age related charities are a good starting point .

There is nothing to indicate this is a safeguarding concern though. As it is this would not meet thresholds for a statutory enquiry.

If OP wants to contact ASC she should speak to her, let her know she's entitled to a free assessment and ask her consent to refer. That's the starting point.

I have a few nonagenarian clients, and while a couple order food/pay bills etc online and are pretty sharp, the others don’t even dare use a smartphone (“I don’t trust technology!”). I hate the thought that she’s sat there cold and confused :(

I might be way off here, but: 3 storey house, rural location, lone vulnerable woman… weed farm?! There’s been a few in isolated houses and barns round here. Keep your eye out for visitors!

@Keha

Is spot on. She obviously works in ASC.

The only thing I would say differently to her is that I would push for neighbour to agree to an assessment as ASC will be able to sign post for a lot of support for the things she needs help with.

This. It's disappointing to read the posts trying to stop the OP raising a concern.

If there are no concerns, no further action will happen. On the other hand if this is real and the lady is vulnerable she can be supported or returned to her own support network.

There are no barriers to reporting safeguarding concerns.

This occurred to me as I read your OP. I would seek expert help quickly, just in case. Even if she is here by choice, she is clearly going to decline extremely quickly if she has no means to travel, access money, or buy food. It’s very sad.

Having worked in front line adult social care for many years I have never heard the phrase "granny dumping" until reading this thread.

Having Googled it it appears its the practise of trying to offload an elderly relative for a holiday period. I have seen this not commonly but not rarely either (although a lot rarer than people here are making out). Just wanted to add that in case anybody tries to ring ASC to report granny dumping only to be met with utter confusion.

How did you come to be involved with her OP?

My cousin who is an A&E doctor says its very common in the UK at Christmas time. People want to enjoy the festivities without the burden of looking after parents.

Do you still work in a care home OP? Elderly care?

Either way, I imagine you have access to a social worker through your work that should be able to advise you on options.

It's all very strange, poor woman. Is she still fairly mobile, to come to you for help, or did you visit to introduce yourself?

If she is genuinely from the US it sounds as per PP that she has been dumped in the UK for the social care that will be available here for free.
Poor lady...If i was you, I would get in touch with local GP and SS as soon as.
Now that you are aware of it, this could become a difficult situation for you.
Your're a kind lady and hope it gets sorted for both of you asap.

Social care is not free in the UK. Some social care is free in parts of the UK but its a small amount. I highly doubt a grand a month house is being rented to get the benefit of the overpriced crap social care we have here.

I would imagine she is either originally British or has some links to UK and it’s a case of granny dumping —- unless there are relatives in Britain and she’s forgotten about them. I’d inform adult SS as her living g alone in an unsuitable house doesn’t sound doable over the winter. It’s probable her son rented the property ( friend’s son did same when she returned to the UK after living in Europe for years. House after being used to a bungalow, she had a serious fall, broke her pelvis, never been 100% since)

Do you know the house owners or agents so you can raise your concerns with them?

I wouldn't't necessarily take her account of her background for the truth. My mother had dementia and would make things up or simply go along with what other people suggested rather than admit she didn't know the answers when asked questions.

Do you know her name? If so, and it's not Smith, say, you could Google, as she likely has a digital footprint, even if she's an older person. Also, look at the electoral roll to see if she has any history of living in the UK. Maybe she sold her house recently, and wants to appear penniless to save having to pay for social care, and pass the money on to relatives?

I might be way off here, but: 3 storey house, rural location, lone vulnerable woman… weed farm?! There’s been a few in isolated houses and barns round here. Keep your eye out for visitors!

I highly, HIGHLY doubt she is running a weed farm.

@Miffee with all dew respect the advice that Keha is giving is incorrect . As I actually deal with these situations in my job I know . Safeguarding is also for people who are seen as neglecting themselves. Adult social services would be the best place to start and they will then decide if this needs to raised as a safeguarding issue .

It never happened I mean.

The green card surely only works for people going to the US and wanting to work, not the other way round? I'm not sure but that's what I thought.

I'd have a dual approach

1 be a good neighbour and you might gain her trust and find out the truth

2 call SS or whoever, and talk to them. You could also try something like AgeUK/ Age Concern for advice, or the CAB.

Tbf that's probably the only way to access care, if there's anyone on the scene they presume they will look after the elderly person.

OP what an odd situation, poor woman.