Donate SIGN UP

What would you have done?

Avatar Image
tigwig | 15:20 Thu 06th Sep 2007 | Body & Soul
32 Answers
Hi all, the other night there was a knock at my door and on answering I found a quite elderly lady, who was a complete stranger, who asked if she could come in. I said why and then she began babbling about her daughter and relative and it became obvious she wasn't all there. I didn't particularly want to let her in my house especially with my 3 year old so she said she would try someone else. She wasn't distressed in any way just confused. she then walked up the street and knocked on other doors but no onw would answer. I felt sorry for her so phoned the police, by this time she had made her way right down the street away from my house and the police said they were sending 2 units out so could I possibly keep her in sight. I ran after her and she had vanished. I live next to a hospital and searched the immediate area but to no avail. When the police arrived some NHS staff pulled up to say they were missing a person from the ward who fitted the description. She had escaped from hospital! I went away feeling awful that I didn't just let her in and later rang the police again and luckily she had been found safe and well
What would you have done? Would you have let a complete stranger in your house?
Gravatar

Answers

1 to 20 of 32rss feed

1 2 Next Last

Best Answer

No best answer has yet been selected by tigwig. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.

For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.
Not if i was on my own with my son, sadly no. Id have kept her talking and used my mobile to call the police.

If my boyfriend was here then yes Id have let her in and made her comfortable whilst calling the police.
Clubbed her to death
Sorry meant to say call the police
No, I would have done the same as you I expect, don't feel awful, you phoned the police rather than ignore her, you have nothing to feel guilty about.
-- answer removed --
In the case you have mentioned yes I would, because it sounds like the poor thing has dementia, I would have taken her into the kitchen sat her down made her some tea and called the police,
I'd have brought her in and rifled through her handbag and purse to see if she'd owt worth snaffling before turfing her back out again :-)

OK, lol, in all seriousness, no, i'm almost ashamed to say I wouldn't have let her into my house either, especially not with your child present. My grandma, before she died, suffered from dementia. Often in her confused state she would lash out and it was surprising how strong she still was!

You did the right thing, and luckily she was found safe and well.
I'd have let her in. Sorry.
-- answer removed --
I don't live on a cloud RoaldoM But my mum had dementia and it could have been her, why ain't you knocking china as well ?
only insult ray at your peril, or the GIRLIES will gang up on you ronaldo...... : )
Ray and China, Im sure you understand why tigwig may have been concerned about letting her in, being at home alone with her child.
I would have clubbed her to death as well.
I would have let her in although i do have 4 kiddies at home.

The reason i say i would is becauce i work in the elderly sector of the social services so am used to know how best to deal with someone like this, i dont think i would have felt threatened just as long as i would have rung police straight away.

Not saying you were wrong not to let her in as quite right you think about your child first, dont feel guilty you just simple were took by surprise and didnt know what to do im sure many others did the same as it proves she went out of sight.
Let her in, sat her down, made her a nice cup of tea and let her talk about the war/children today etc and quietly called the Police.
My grandmother died from dementia, sometimes it was hysterical watching her make me cup of coffee after cup of coffee after coffee, and all day trying to make her favorite grandson a cup of coffee because she couldn't remember making me one not two minutes earlier but she could remember life in Edinburgh in the early 1920's
Of course I do red, I can only speak for me, I am not coming back to this because it is obvious others want to argue on a quite simple question, so get on with it
-- answer removed --
Time for a {{{{group hug}}}}
oh please no, next someone will produce a cake !
Cake????


slobber

1 to 20 of 32rss feed

1 2 Next Last

Do you know the answer?

What would you have done?

Answer Question >>