I have a neighbor - a senior lady living by her self - I am so worried about her. Never do see her outside and never answers the door when you ring the door bell.
Ask the mailman if she is getting her mail? If so, she is probably OK.
We have a convenience store nearby. There is a apt complex behind it. Every day an elderly lady would visit the store for something. She would tell the clerks that she was going away, etc. One day she didn't come in. The clerk called the police and they found the woman had passed.
We all should have someone we call or they call us every day just to check on us.
Maybe she goes outside when you don't see her. Maybe she doesn't go outside or answer the door because she is in bad health, tired, and doesn't want to or feel like it. I rarely see any neighbors, and won't answer the door to anyone unless I know who it is and that they're coming.
You could leave a greeting card in a sealed envelope on her door with your name and number just saying something nice like: 'I'm your neighbor, and live at *give her your address.* I haven't seen you lately, and wanted to know if you're ok. Would you please call me? And, if you need anything, please call me.' Knock a few times before leaving the card, and say 'it's your neighbor'; then leave. Make sure you wedge the card/envelope really good into the door where it opens/closes.
You could check her door later after leaving the card to see if it is gone. If it is, you know she likely got it, so you will know she's ok and moving around.
Other than something like that, it would have to be a welfare check by the police. Call the local police non emergency phone number or 911 and they'll direct you. However, that can be startling to anyone, especially if they're simply resting, sick, or enjoying time to themselves so you might think about that a good while before doing it.
That's sweet of you to be looking out for her, and at your age, too.
Get on the internet and find all the Agencies on Aging you can. Alert them to the fact you know of an elder in danger.
She could just be a complete hermit and everything is fine (my MIL was like that, she only left her house once a week for about 2 hours and never even went outside. She had a fall in her home and it took EMT's to get her up and into the ambulance.)
Or she could truly be in need. Have you yourself been inside her home? Do you know her well enough to visit her and kind of assess the situation? Does she seem to ever have visitors (again, my MIL won't open the door to anyone, so her 2 kids have keys and let themselves in. She won't willingly let anyone in her home.)
I understand how you feel, and that you are trying to be a good neighbor. However, we were visited by the police for a wellness check last spring due to an overzealous social worker. I almost passed out that evening when I saw them at the door. All I could think of was that something horrific had happened to one of my children. I shook in a panic for hours after we assured them we were ok and they left. Then, to say I was furious was an understatement. I was absolutely livid. I called the social worker and gave her a large piece of my mind. This lady will undoubtedly be upset and frightened when the police show up at her door. You will ha e to ask the police if they can suggest an on-going well-check, such as a daily phone call to this lady. She will have to understand that if she doesn’t answer the phone, the police will be out again to check up on her.
I would start with a wellness check from the police. How responsive are the police in your area? They aren’t always super responsive here in my city.
A long time ago I had a VCR in a repair shop. The man kept it. Was not answering the phone or the door during business hours.
I could see this fellow from the window reclining on a couch. I went home sort of baffled because this guy was ignoring me and I started to wonder if he was sick or something.
I told my neighbor about the issue. She told me to call the coroner. I figured, why not and I did. Turned out that the guy’s wife left him and he was going through a really tough time. He agreed to be taken to a mental hospital for an evaluation.
It took many months before we got our VCR from his shop. Was a strange incident. People can hit a breaking point and snap or totally zone out. He was like a zombie on his sofa. Just catatonic behavior. Was sad.
You neighbor may be fine though. Maybe she’s deaf or very hard of hearing. Does she belong to a church or any other organizations that could check on her as well? Can you ask your neighbor for a family member’s phone number if you are concerned? Then in the future you could check up on her.
My gosh, half the time I have no idea what my neighbors are doing and not really interested. Sorry, I don’t mean to sound cold. I have never been a nosey neighbor.
Police can also do a wellness check. Hopefully they're more sensitive than the ones in my city. A cyberfriend hadn't heard from me in a while and requested a wellness check. I think the responding officer modeled himself after the detectives in Law and Order. He pounded on the door, yellowing "(my city) POLICE! OPEN UP!"
I was scared the house was on fire or I'd done something I didn't know was wrong. It was unsettling.
Google Adult Protective Services in your area & give them a call. They can stop by to see what's happening with your neighbor, and if they feel she's safe.
We have a convenience store nearby. There is a apt complex behind it. Every day an elderly lady would visit the store for something. She would tell the clerks that she was going away, etc. One day she didn't come in. The clerk called the police and they found the woman had passed.
We all should have someone we call or they call us every day just to check on us.
You could leave a greeting card in a sealed envelope on her door with your name and number just saying something nice like: 'I'm your neighbor, and live at *give her your address.* I haven't seen you lately, and wanted to know if you're ok. Would you please call me? And, if you need anything, please call me.' Knock a few times before leaving the card, and say 'it's your neighbor'; then leave. Make sure you wedge the card/envelope really good into the door where it opens/closes.
You could check her door later after leaving the card to see if it is gone. If it is, you know she likely got it, so you will know she's ok and moving around.
Other than something like that, it would have to be a welfare check by the police. Call the local police non emergency phone number or 911 and they'll direct you. However, that can be startling to anyone, especially if they're simply resting, sick, or enjoying time to themselves so you might think about that a good while before doing it.
That's sweet of you to be looking out for her, and at your age, too.
She could just be a complete hermit and everything is fine (my MIL was like that, she only left her house once a week for about 2 hours and never even went outside. She had a fall in her home and it took EMT's to get her up and into the ambulance.)
Or she could truly be in need. Have you yourself been inside her home? Do you know her well enough to visit her and kind of assess the situation? Does she seem to ever have visitors (again, my MIL won't open the door to anyone, so her 2 kids have keys and let themselves in. She won't willingly let anyone in her home.)
You are very kind to be concerned about her.
A long time ago I had a VCR in a repair shop. The man kept it. Was not answering the phone or the door during business hours.
I could see this fellow from the window reclining on a couch. I went home sort of baffled because this guy was ignoring me and I started to wonder if he was sick or something.
I told my neighbor about the issue. She told me to call the coroner. I figured, why not and I did. Turned out that the guy’s wife left him and he was going through a really tough time. He agreed to be taken to a mental hospital for an evaluation.
It took many months before we got our VCR from his shop. Was a strange incident. People can hit a breaking point and snap or totally zone out. He was like a zombie on his sofa. Just catatonic behavior. Was sad.
You neighbor may be fine though. Maybe she’s deaf or very hard of hearing. Does she belong to a church or any other organizations that could check on her as well? Can you ask your neighbor for a family member’s phone number if you are concerned? Then in the future you could check up on her.
My gosh, half the time I have no idea what my neighbors are doing and not really interested. Sorry, I don’t mean to sound cold. I have never been a nosey neighbor.
I was scared the house was on fire or I'd done something I didn't know was wrong. It was unsettling.
https://www.napsa-now.org/get-help/help-in-your-area/
Good luck!