Earlier this year, the faith leader in a local community learns that an elderly parishioner (Edith) is going to live with her daughter in another town about 50 K away.   Edith explained that her daughter’s marriage recently broke up and she asked Edith for help by coming to stay with them to be with the two teenage children as her daughter Sue’s work involved a lot of shift.

Edith enjoyed being in her own home and community and was unsure about moving in with her daughter because she could be quite difficult at times. But Edith felt sorry for her daughter and grandchildren, so agreed to the plan.

About three months after Edith went to live with Sue, neighbours saw a large cube van at Edith’s and asked Sue what was happening.  She explained that Edith had decided to continue to live with her and her family and that her house would be put on the market. Sue sold all the furniture from Edith’s home.

About a week ago, Edith arrived back home to find her house up for sale, and the furniture gone.  She called her faith leader for help.  She explained that things had gone badly while living with her daughter and family – they refused to take her places, didn’t allow her to use the phone, yelled and threatened to put her in a home. One afternoon after Sue left for work, Edith had called a taxi and come home.                                        

Gwendolyn, who was in her mid 50’s, lived with her husband in a modest home in the city.  Gwendolyn had a history of mental health problems and had left the job she’d had about 2 years ago.  Her husband drove a transport and was seldom home.

Neighbours became concern about Gwendolyn.  She didn’t seem to know who they were.  Though they weren’t really close, these neighbours had lived beside Gwendolyn for 10 years or more. They would have a conversation with her in the morning and she didn’t recognize them later that day or recall any of the conversations.  She spoke of her house as being ‘solid brick’ when in fact it was frame. 

One day neighbours found her bare footed and with only a light nightgown on outside her house on a very cold day. They called the police who said they were unable to do anything if she was on her own property and wasn’t harming anyone.  The neighbours helped Gwendolyn into the house.  Inside things there were in disarray and there was no food in the refrigerator or cupboard.  One neighbour brought a sandwich from home for her and both Gwendolyn and her cat virtually attached the food.

Another neighbour said he had seen the husband arrive home on two occasions with a small bag of groceries which he left at the house and left, not returning for at least a week each time.

Neighbours knew that Gwendolyn had a son who would be in his late 20’s who worked out west, but he hadn’t been home for a long time.  There were no other relatives they were aware of.   The neighbours didn’t know where to turn for help.                                   

Martin has been a client of the Access Centre since his stroke almost a year ago.  He receives home making services six hours a week and support from the occupational therapist. He is still able to drive but relies on his son Thomas and some neighbours to get out for groceries and banking since the winter weather began this fall.  Martin’s son Thomas is his Power of Attorney for Property and Personal Care.

The staff of Martin’s bank became concerned when they noticed there was not sufficient money in his account to cover a rent cheque Martin had written.  They also noticed a change in the withdrawal pattern from Martin’s account.  Normally Martin came into the bank about every two weeks and withdrew $200 - rarely smaller amounts; and he still wrote cheques to pay his bills. The new pattern involved the withdrawal of varying amounts 2-3 times daily under $200, always from ATM machines.

The manager of the bank called Martin about the concern.  Martin was surprised to learn that there was not enough money to cover the cheque.