Police: 94-year-old found extremely dehydrated in ‘locked-up’ home

heat wave warning that has blanketed the Philadelphia region since Wednesday. The woman, described as a 94-year-old woman living on Academy Lane, was taken to Delaware County Memorial Hospital for evaluation and was still recovering as of Monday afternoon.

According to Chitwood, the woman’s friend, a 93-year-old living at an assisted living care facility, had been trying to reach her by telephone for three days with no answer. She called police Sunday and Upper Darby Officers Michael Taylor and Michael Wilson were dispatched to the 94-year-old’s house for a citizen well-being check around 2:30 p.m.

The officers tried to access the inside of the home through the front door, but received no answer. They went around to the back of the residence where they found an open door and were able to access the inside.

“I applaud them,” said Chitwood of his officers. “Instead of knocking on the door and leaving they found a back door ajar and found her.”

Officers found the woman in her bedroom very dehydrated. Chitwood said she was able to verbally communicate a minimum amount of information to the officers. He added that the house had no fans on, no air conditioning and no open windows, conditions that the woman had apparently been in for four days without access to her phone or water.

The woman was taken to the hospital where she was given IV fluids to re-hydrate her.

Chitwood said if it wasn’t for the 93-year-old calling the police, her friend may not have survived in those conditions. The woman is believed to not have close family or anyone else to check on her. Her friend, though living at an assisted living facility, was the closest connection she may have had.

A case worker from the County Office of Services for the Aging has been assigned to the woman.

The county pushed out a reminder last week about its heat plan before the start of this oppressive heat wave for county residents, and particularly its older residents, can prepare to take care during the hot days. About a dozen senior centers around the county are open and will help cool senior citizens as the heat takes over. People are encouraged to check on their older neighbors to make sure they’re getting along well.

According to the Centers

The county pushed out a reminder last week about its heat plan before the start of this oppressive heat wave for county residents, and particularly its older residents, can prepare to take care during the hot days.

for Disease Control and Prevention, there are approximately 650 heat-related deaths per year with the highest death rate among people 65 and older.