Would you have phoned the police ?

You did the right thing. No-one should have ignored that situation though I know that sometimes people don't want to get involved. That's wrong!

You definitely did the right thing, thank you for caring for him

yes, I was a mental health social worker and he will have been being assessed by dr's and a social worker to see if he has capacity, so if he has an active mental illness and is planning to take his life it could be that his condition is making his thoughts twisted and he really needs to be in psychiatric hospital to help him over a bad patch. If he is of sound mind but he is planning to take his own life that is his own business.
the social worker is there to check people's civil rights, that he couldn''t stay at home if he had some home care or if he needs to be admitted under the mental health act that someone will look after the dog/farm/inform important people.
You may have saved his life

PS It does justify a 999 call cos it is life threatening the section of the mental health act used will have been s136 where police have a duty to investigate people at risk to themselves or others just as much as a heart attack.
www.mind.org.uk/information-support/legal-rights/police-and-mental-health/sections-135-136/

I would have done the same in my area. His vulnerability might have led to him becoming a target.

If someone hadn't phoned the police about an elderly man wandering about aimlessly in front of their block of flats and obviously not able to communicate, it's likely that he would have wandered across a very busy road and caused an accident to himself and others.
It was my neighbour's husband who had dementia and was prone to 'escaping', so she and I were both always on the alert.
Usually we were able to find him quite quickly, but in this case we had searched on foot and then in my car with no success.
So she phoned the police and luckily they found him very quickly thanks to the person's phone call. You did the right thing, Jaffacake.

Several years ago my elderly mum, a dementia sufferer, absconded from the hospital where she had been a patient. Somehow, clad in a nightie, dressing gown and slippers, she got out of the huge building, out onto a very major road, to a bus stop, boarded the bus with no money or card - presumably the driver just waved her through - got off at the right stop, and managed to walk home, crossing a very busy dual carriageway en route. The first my father knew was when she walked in through the front door. The whole journey must have taken well over an hour but she wasn’t missed by the hospital and, as far as we know, nobody she saw made enquiries or phoned the police. So YES Jaffacake2 you absolutely did the right thing.

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You need to start a new thread about this.

Yes, you did the right thing.

I think you did the right thing, but I hasten to add that I’m not sure if I would have done. I tend to not want to interfere unless there’s a child involved. Nonetheless I think you were right to call the police.

The old man you encountered reminds me so much of my aunt who suffered from mental health issues all her life. Often dressed inappropriately, ranting at passers by/or on the buses, banned from local shops, she would try to live her life as best she could. I despaired of the help from public bodies but owe huge thanks to her neighbours. The one lesson I learnt - be kind.

I would have done exactly the same.

You did the right thing. He was so vulnerable and the Police would be best placed to deal with him.

Definitely exemplary protocol. I would have called the police as well.

My grandad was found wandering out in the street and I am really glad the neighbour rang me to tell me. It turned out he had a UTI and was completely confused. He told them he just wanted to die and if they hadn't been able to get hold of me, I would have been grateful if someone had rung the police.
I saw an elderly man on a scooter who was wobbling next to the main road, threatening to overturn off the curb. He insisted he was ok but I asked in the Co-op and it turned out he was from the old people's home so I rang them to tell them my concerns.
I am very minded that my friend had a husband had dementia and he managed to get out of the house. He ended up under a train. That made me decide I would take a chance on communicating rather than looking away.

I think you did the right thing - it was caring and someone has to care. If the man did not want interference I'm sure he soon regained his freedom, unless he was a danger to himself and others.

I would have phoned the police too but in my County it would probably have been a waste of time as our police force have stopped responding to mental health incidents unless there's a risk of harm to the public. Theyveould probably have referred him to Social Services.

I would have done exactly the same, and called the police. To many people turn a blind eye in today’s world.

I find it very reassuring that so many Gransnetters are confirming that making the call was not only the right thing to do, but that they would have done the same. Well done Jaffa cake.

Rosie51

You did exactly the right thing Jaffacake, I would have phoned the police too.

Same as Rosie and well done for caring Jaffacake

MaggsMcG

I would have phoned the police too but in my County it would probably have been a waste of time as our police force have stopped responding to mental health incidents unless there's a risk of harm to the public. Theyveould probably have referred him to Social Services.

Yes, the police have come to agreements in some areas not to pick up on routine MH calls unless the person is an immediate danger to self and others, then they will respond.

I think this incident warrants a call to the police, it is up to them to triage, this being a possible 'danger to self".

Rosie51

You did exactly the right thing Jaffacake, I would have phoned the police too.

You did the right thing, I am surprised that no one else had been in touch with them.