Neighbour Screams

[dave1948]

We have an elderly neighbour who for some time now has been screaming very loudly. I believe it suggests some kind of dementia. My wife is friendly with her and has knocked on the door to enquire about her well-being. She says she is fine and denies being unwell. This all starts again the next day. should we just ignore it ?

[bednobs]

do you have any relatives contact details?

[Mamyalynne]

I was also going to suggest relatives.


If she seems to be functioning well enough otherwise then maybe ignore with an occasional check on her.

I have a neighbour who is in a lot of pain and sometimes he has shouting sessions, it can be distressing to hear.

[dave1948]

She has a daughter who visits occasionally. I suggest ed to my wife to contact daughter but she is reluctant in case the neighbour either denies or takes offence when she claims to be "fine"

[dave1948]

Thank you Mamyalynne. It is difficult to know what is best and it is hard to ignore.

[mccfluff]

can you record it and just take the daughter to one side and play her the recording?

[dave1948]

Possibly but again her denial makes it hard to address her daughter without perhaps causing her distress.

[Islay]

Record it and speak to SS

[dannyk13]

The daughter might not take kindly to someone speaking to ss.

[albaqwerty]

Do you know which GP surgery is hers?
I know they can't tell you anything but maybe bringing that to their attention might, just might help them solve a missing link.

Not saying it will, just a thought....

[dave1948]

Thank you Danny. It is hard to get it right . She is independent and to do anything like contacting Social Services might cause great upset but at the same time it is hard to ignore and pretend their is no problem.

[Islay]

Well you are left with 2 choices then ignore it or speak to her daughter.

[mccfluff]

can you go round when you hear the screaming?

[albaqwerty]

Have a word with other neighbours, for all you know, one of them might have already contacted Social Services

[dave1948]

Thank you all for your suggestions.

[EDDIE51]

Just to say that I have worked in a care home and this screaming is something that can happen with elderly people and it is a symptom of dementia. We had one old lady who would scream for help out of her window at anyone who was passing by. In the end she got violent as well, staff had to go into her room two at a time as she attacked and tried to bite them if they went in alone.