Dementia; Ireland

Graces7

Would value some information on this as we are fairly new to Ireland so know not the resources/system here.

Thank you.

We have been having increasing problems eg verbal abuse, threats, and some violence with an elderly neighbour.

The Gardai have been called several times. Sympathetic etc, but nothing is ever done and is is getting scary. We think that it is because he is 80, no close family and they ?? hoped?? it would die down.

They warned him re criminal damage.

He has seemingly no short term memory and is living in the past where an ancient and defunct right of way issue is involved. He told the gardai he drives his car through what is now a massively overgrown ditch.

Two nights ago after spending some days trying to cut through the boreen, in the middle of the night he took petrol and set fire to it. How he managed not to injure himself is a wonder.

The landlord has involved the Gardai etc, reluctantly. This is very close to our rented house and clearly a danger.

We wonder what resources there are and what may happen now? Our feeling is that this is at base a medical issue. The house he lives in is apparently falling down and full of rats. Is there no procedure here for this kind of problem, please? Where family live in Canada foe example, he would have been taken away to a care facility three months ago. They seem to be letting it escalate?

dollydishmop

Graces7 wrote: »

We have been having increasing problems eg verbal abuse, threats, and some violence with an elderly neighbour.

The Gardai have been called several times. Sympathetic etc, but nothing is ever done and is is getting scary. We think that it is because he is 80, no close family and they ?? hoped?? it would die down.

They warned him re criminal damage.

He has seemingly no short term memory and is living in the past where an ancient and defunct right of way issue is involved. He told the gardai he drives his car through what is now a massively overgrown ditch.

Two nights ago after spending some days trying to cut through the boreen, in the middle of the night he took petrol and set fire to it. How he managed not to injure himself is a wonder.

The landlord has involved the Gardai etc, reluctantly. This is very close to our rented house and clearly a danger.

We wonder what resources there are and what may happen now? Our feeling is that this is at base a medical issue. The house he lives in is apparently falling down and full of rats. Is there no procedure here for this kind of problem, please? Where family live in Canada foe example, he would have been taken away to a care facility three months ago. They seem to be letting it escalate?

I don't have the specific advice you need, sorry. But it does sound horrific.
Maybe you need to escalate this re: the gardai...ie, go higher up the ranks?

Graces7 wrote: »

Would value some information on this as we are fairly new to Ireland so know not the resources/system here.

Not sure I'd describe 10 years here as 'fairly new' though?

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=67201024&postcount=283

Graces7

dollydishmop wrote: »

I don't have the specific advice you need, sorry. But it does sound horrific.
Maybe you need to escalate this re: the gardai...ie, go higher up the ranks?



Not sure I'd describe 10 years here as 'fairly new' though?

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=67201024&postcount=283

It is difficult as we do not own the property and as this is a close knit rural community. Th eman is old family and that is deeply revered in such a place.

The local garda is related to everyone.

Ten years is truly as nothing in Ireland. And we have not involved with the health care system beyond some simple primary care.
It is only after a fall here that we have even seen inside a hospital.

And we are here at this house only three months.

No one wants to see an 80 year old up in court or forcibly removed from his home, but something needs to be done for the safety of all.

FluffyCat

I heard a very, very similar story to this were a young couple bought a lovely house with a 'troubled' neighbour. After attempts to talk to the family to try and sort things out they unfortunally had to sell up and move away. I dont think the law can do anything and trying to speak to the family may be your only option. Shameful that someone is left like that though.

Graces7

FluffyCat wrote: »

I heard a very, very similar story to this were a young couple bought a lovely house with a 'troubled' neighbour. After attempts to talk to the family to try and sort things out they unfortunally had to sell up and move away. I dont think the law can do anything and trying to speak to the family may be your only option. Shameful that someone is left like that though.

Such an ordeal for that young couple..terrible is that.

Sadly these old ones choose to live like that. Not a case of them being left. And no one can budge them until others have been badly hurt.

Developments here today mean that the Gardai will be sorting this now; he has now gone too far. Thankfully we have a stalwart landlord. The boreen has now been solidly and firmly blocked and our instructions are to call the Gardai if he comes anywhere near.

While no one wants to see an old one taken up a limit has to be set.

What is of some concern is that everyone says that he is mentally ill, yet there is no attempt to get treatment of any kind for him.

sam34

ok as this matter i now being dealt with by teh gardai, i think its time to close the thread