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I have a tenant who is disabled (COPD, alcoholic, and heart issues (I think) I found out she is using the bathroom in an open bucket in her bedroom, has trash in her bed and hadn't showered in at least 6 months. She has no family or friends.
What can I do to help her? Is there an agency for this? My local APS will not take self neglect cases anymore. I'm in TN near Nashville and I fear she is going to get an very sick or hurt with nobody to help her

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Where I live the local law enforcement will do a wellness check on someone who’s cause for concern. That can trigger other resources to step in and help. It’s appalling that APS will not respond
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I wonder how she is paying the rent? Is there any way you could get the name of a family member or friend or someone who would come to her aid? Perhaps via her bank? I wonder whether she has health insurance, Medicaid/ Medicare, etc. how does she get food? Does she ever leave?

what if you called 911 and said you fear she is a danger to herself and potentially others in the building, might leave the gas on, start a fire?
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Every State has an Elder Abuse Hotline number that can be called. Self neglect is reportable.
If there is a Senior Center you can enquire there how to report. Many times the calls to the State hotline will eventually be routed to the local Senior Services Center.
Since you are a landlord in theory you could contact your local Health Department or Code Enforcement and report unhealthy conditions.
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I was going to suggest that you call APS until I read of the situation in your area regarding self neglect.

I have no idea how you can help. It’s a sad situation but it may be out of your control. I am so sorry that you are witnessing this.
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You can trying calling 911 and telling this tenant seems disoriented and sick, she might have an untreated UTI (which may be true). Don't tell them anything more and do not go to the ER with her. Tell the EMTs she has no family that you know of and that she is an "unsafe discharge" and there's no one here to help her take any meds if she comes back. Do not tell them you think she has dementia as this is not a "life threatening emergency" so the EMTs might not come.

If they take her away then, do not answer any calls from the hospital or they might pressure you to come get her. I think that's as much as you can do. The hospitals are teaming with cases like hers so they might be desperate enough to discharge her. I'm so sorry, this is so distressing and I cannot believe APS won't help. This is as much as you can do.
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I get the feeling that you aren’t interested in evicting this person, especially since you are aware of her needing help.

Some people are all alone in this world. Since she has no family to look out for her, it makes her situation worse.

I certainly hope that you will be able to find the appropriate help for this woman.

I imagine that if you do have to eventually evict her it will be a tough situation all around.
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So what does APS do if they don't help people like this. I think since she has access to a toilet and choose to use a bucket this could be a Health Dept problem. Office of Aging maybe able to help. Really, for anyone to do this, they have to have Dementia or a mental illness.

You could call the cops for a wellness check. Hopefully they will report her to the right agency. If all else fails, then go the eviction route if not paying her rent.

Do not do anymore than call the agencies. If she gets hospitalized you make it perfectly clear that you are just her landlord and you are taking no responsility for her. That means you do not pick her up to take home. As soon as she goes out those doors, the hospital has no responsibility for her. You have taken that on because you picked her up. You make sure they know there is no family or friend so no one to care for her if sent home.

If you find a way to get her help, update us. We learn from others.
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Maybe if you evict her , they will have to help her? Just a thought
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Anxietynacy Mar 19, 2024
I was just thinking eviction, may get her the help she needs. Not to evect because you don't want her. I just thought that may be the only way to help her.

Sorry if that came out wrong
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Starting the eviction process would be good. She can’t continue like that because she’s clearly mentally disturbed. What you describe is a health issue for her and for any other tenants who live in the same building. She probably won’t vacate on her own and then you’ll call authorities to help evict her. That will kick in some other agencies, like social services. All this varies according to the state where you live, but that’s the general hang of it.
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