obligation to report abuse of a neighbor?

[maxsmom]

Sorry if this is long.

I live in an apartment on the ground floor. My neighbors upstairs are an older couple and I'm aware that the wife has Alzheimer's disease. In the last year she has attempted to flush various items down the toilet (three separate occasions) and it overflowed into my bathroom (one time it flooded about 1/4 of my apartment - it was SO gross). With the past occurrences I was reassured that the woman was usually at adult daycare or had an adult son home with her during the day. I'm now aware that this is untrue. Instead, her husband leaves for work in the morning, checks in at lunch and then returns late afternoon when finished working.

I've also been made aware that their apartment is relatively unkept and she appears to be "bruised" (although I think this is NOT the result of physical abuse, but possibly falling).

I believe this constitutes neglect. It also seems to me that she poses a potential danger to herself and others (at least this time it's just an overflowing toilet, what happens when she decided to cook something?).

I can't tolerate her situation, but I'm worried about reporting it. So, can I report the neglect as an anonymous, concerned neighbor or am I obligated to report it as an RN? It would seem that because she's not a patient of mine, I could report it anonymously. I'm concerned about getting into a battle that involves my professional status when it's not actually related to my work (does that make sense?).

Opinions would be greatly appreciated!

[CHATSDALE]

i am hesitate to advise anyone to go face to face with someone you are not familiar with..there may be free or reduced adult day care in the neighborhood that you can get some literture and mail to the family

whether or not this is abuse would depend on a mds evaluation of the woman's LOC

but this is a personal as opposed to professional

[StNeotser, ASN, RN]

Please don't report it as abuse. Sometimes family members really don't know what options are available to them. I'm sure the husband is going out to work because he NEEDS to. He may well be totally unaware that he can have social services help in the guise of a sitter and may think he can't afford one. He may well be in denial.

I work on a step down unit (similar to a medicare rehab unit) where families are often totally in denial on how much their family members health has deteriorated and how much help they really need. Sometimes what they suggest at discharge conferences is totally wrong and they need to be guided in the right direction. I'm sure this husband doesn't see this as abuse or neglect, regardless of whether she really is being neglected.

Obviously it needs to be reported to someone and they need help.

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

Is there a possiblity that you can have a candid discussion with the landlord or super of the building. They may know more about the siutation than you know and could put your mind at ease. I think ultimately they are responsible for the safety of all that live in the building anyway in that respect. If there is a siutation that has you worried that she may cause a fire or be injured or accidently injure someone else maybe that could be the first course of action. Then if the landlord or super feels there may be a problem it can be his call whether to call social serivces to assist these people.

I agree they are probly on a shoestring and having help in home or even taking her to adult daycare is not within their budget. So they are trying to do the best they can. Its an unfortunate situation, but you cant force people into situations they dont want to be in.