posting for a friend who hasn't asked for this -I feel helpless and don't know how to advise her(if at all or just mind my own business).
she recently confided (after a few drinks)about her sister who I had noticed rarely goes out any more for about 5 years. she lives in her parents home and is in her mid 40's. she has lived away with a boyfriend ,when she worked abroad and at university but has never bought her own property and has shown no sign of leaving. she runs her own business which is largely internet based so works from home.they have suffered a lot as a family, their brother died 2 years ago from cancer and their father died last year leaving the mother with the daughter. my friend says she has been behaving more and more strangely and says she hears voices but completely refuses to go to the doctor as she thinks she will be sectioned. the voices don't seem to say anything bad, but more like a running commentary, for instance she often wears a hat indoors as she says she's been told to . my friend is at her wits end and has told her mother they need to call the doctor or social services but her mother refuses and sticks her head in the sand.(I think she has mild dementia and has never got over losing her son). does my friend have to accept this and wait til it really is crisis point? this is my understanding, I don't really have any more details as don't want to pry but also want to be there for my friend as it sounds absolutely terrifying