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Random question about finding help for a neighbor

The net-door-neighbor to the house where I grew up has apparently sunken into depression/dementia/some other mental illness. Her children have all scattered and none of the neighbors know how to find them. She's become a hoarder, is living in filth and dog feces, has had her electricity cut off etc.

Is there something we can do? Some agency to call? I truly fear that if no one does anything, they will find her body in there someday. Surely there is a way to be proactive and get her some help, but I haven't the slightest clue.

Any suggestions?

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Permalink Reply by TommysMommy on March 7, 2012 at 8:39am

I think you can start with non-emergency police and fire people. They can usually point you in the right direction for where you live. And they are very concern about fire hazards as well.

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Permalink Reply by Herasmus B. Dragon on March 7, 2012 at 9:02am

Also the county social services may be able to direct you. You don't want to "report" them, you want to help start the process of getting her family involved in helping her.

http://blog.neatandsimple.com/2009/08/helping-hoarders.html

Then again, you may not want to get involved at all. If she's somehow deemed mentally unfit to care for herself because of her hoarding, she could lose a lot of control over herself. This is a fine line. Whomever you do call, do it without giving away any specifics first.

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Permalink Reply by Diggy on March 8, 2012 at 7:22am

I know on Hoarders they usually get Adult Protective Services involved.

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Permalink Reply by kommishoner on March 8, 2012 at 10:14am

Yeah, Adult Protective Services was going to be my suggestion - they can make assessments about whether the person is actually in danger of harm and/or needs a guardian.