The Original Post
I’m still shaking – even though there’s no real reason.
Got woken up out of a sound sleep by someone shouting and banging on my door just a little while ago.
Turns out it was my next door neighbour in our apartment building. She’s 102 years old, and she was hysterical. I got dressed and went with her to her apartment. She was complaining about people being in her apartment, and that they had stolen from her. She asked me to check the bedroom and balcony to see if they were still there. (She was hard to understand as English wasn’t her first language).
I did that, and assured her no one was there. She asked me to call the police so I called 911, who after hearing the particulars, elected to send over a public health nurse instead.
She really belongs in an assisted living home. I think she was hallucinating or something. For 102 she’s normally okay and didn’t appear to have dementia – although given what happened tonight she probably does now.
Anyway, I’m a grown man – kind of older myself but not nearly as old as her, not by a long shot. And yet, my system is still shaking.
No one to talk this out with, hence this post here and now.
I truly hope they put her in assisted living.
What Reddit Said
Reddit overwhelmingly praised OP for his compassionate response to his elderly neighbor’s crisis. Medical professionals in the comments provided valuable insights about potential causes. A student nurse explained that UTIs can trigger acute delirium in elderly patients. Meanwhile, another commenter suggested checking for carbon monoxide poisoning, which can cause similar hallucinations.
Most Redditors agreed the woman needs professional care immediately. However, they also recognized that placement in assisted living isn’t always quick or easy. The community showed genuine concern for both OP’s wellbeing and his neighbor’s safety.
The Verdict
The consensus was crystal clear: OP did everything right in this frightening situation involving elderly neighbor hallucinations. Reddit validated his shaken emotional state while praising his quick thinking to call 911. This represents a touching example of community support where neighbors look out for each other during medical emergencies.
Original post from r/TrueOffMyChest (3,066 upvotes, 117 comments)