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petit-prout

How can I help my neighbour? (Scotland)

Hello!

My neighbour is an older lady (late 60’s) who lives alone (homeowner). She’s had issues with substance abuse and just overall mental health.
She has been abusive and aggressive towards others while under the influence, so she’s alienated a lot of people, and her family doesn’t live nearby - she’s very much isolated.

She just spent a few months in a mental health hospital getting long overdue treatment, and she now gets day permissions - she can come home from time to time as long as she’s back for dinner basically.
I had a chat with her over the weekend and helped her with some gardening things - and I could tell she’s very loopy, her medication makes her very confused.

She’s opened up to me about the fact that she feels very isolated because her landline has been cut off and her mobile doesn’t work very well - so I’ve offered to help calling BT to try to get her landline reinstated. She said she has some friends she can call so she’s doesn’t feel so lonely, so I’ll go and help her tomorrow, but I’m wondering if anyone can think of anything else I can suggest to get her some help?

I assume the hospital keeps an eye on her for now, and I believe she has a social worker (I’m not actually sure), and when I asked if she had anyone helping for admin tasks, she said the council was looking into setting up something but she wasn’t sure what and if/when that would happen.

From talking with her / seeing her house, I’m a little worried she’ll get overwhelmed and her mental health will take a turn for the worse (she’s a hoarder) as soon as she fully leaves the hospital.

Should I signpost her to some services, or make a report somewhere? Or just trust the council is doing something? They for sure know about her, she’s been a problem for the community for years, and had the police called on her multiple times, which led to her hospitalisation.

My partner thinks I’m being too nice and should just leave her be, but I feel bad for her and I want to make sure she gets support - and at the same time I don’t want to become involved in her life as I’ve already got a lot on and am not doing too well, so don’t want to spend my days off helping her out.

Any advice is appreciated! Thank you for reading all of that!

Posted Apr 8, 2025, 9:08 PM UTC

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