Worried about My elderly neighbour
I’m very worried about my elderly neighbour. He fell in the garden the other day and I helped him inside. He wouldn’t let me call anyone and insisted he was fine and had just tripped. However, several times since I’ve heard crashes next door but when I go round he maintains he’s fine and doesn’t want a fuss. I don’t know what to do. n He is so lucky to have a neighbour like you who cares. He obviously knows you well enough to let you in which is a great advantage when it comes to ensuring his long term safety. When you next pop round can you establish if he has any other visitors, such as relatives, who do his shopping and cleaning? if he gives you any information about such people, you could ask his permission to call them for a friendly chat, but to share your concerns. if he doesn’t want your intervention, in case he feels it threatens his independence, you will have to find another way to get your message across. in a kind but factual way you have to be straight with him and tell him of your concerns. Ask him if he has seen his gp recently and whether he needs your help with transport to get there. if he refuses all offers and your concerns increase, then you do need to contact social services and let them know of your concerns. they will arrange the necessary assessment visit and take it forward. However, if you first explain that you want to keep him as a neighbour and there is no shame in getting help he may be relieved and realise that you are only concerened and that as we get older, we need to take extra care and learn to accept help. As i said, he is lucky to have you as a caring neighbour.
in a kind but factualway, tell him your concerns