I have a terrifically elderly neighbor who's a shut-in. While I do feel fairly sorry for her, she is stinking up the entire apartment building with her cat's litter box, and mounds of rubbish that don't get taken out but once a month, if that. I enjoy complained to the landlord, who won't do anything. I enjoy bought Air Wick warmers from my own pocket and placed them throughout the building, which helps some, but every time she open her door for the mailman, a foul, lingering odor of feces and urine and who know WHAT else escapes her apartment. It's gotten to the point where I want to ring up the Health Department on her, because it isn't sanitary! I have lived here for two years and hold tried to have compassion for her; I figure out she's very antiquated and crippled and can't do much for herself. But the other neighbors and I have gotten tired of the stench! Can the Health Department do anything, since it is individual one cat, and since the garbage doesn't spill out into the upstairs hallway?

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Answers:    Your description appears to be self-neglect, for whatever pretext you neighbor is not keeping her apartment clean and sanitary. "Self-neglect" is classified as a form of elder misuse. One thing you can try is to contact your local "Agency on Aging" and report to them what is going on. If you don't know the local number, next try this national number, they can refer you to local agencies:

National Center on Elder Abuse, Administration on Aging
http://www.ncea.aoa.gov/ncearoot/Main_Si...
If you suspect elder abuse, failure, or exploitation, call
1-8OO-677-1116

Most areas hold agencies that can provide services to help elderly relations care for their homes and themselves. Some of these are governmental programs, some are private home condition agencies, and some are charitable social service groups. No one wants to intrude into other people's business, but what you describe isn't robust for the lady or her neighbors. Calling the treat roughly line can confer you information about who can sustain her.

In my area, complaints roughly speaking foul odors and other problems on private property do not go directly to the Health Department. Complaints turn to "Code Enforcement" for the city or county that you live in. The more details you hand over them on the phone, the better case you build. The more neighbors who phone, the easier it is for code enforcement to see a pattern and accomplishment.

I wish you and your neighbors powerfully. This is a sensitive subject, no one requirements to gang up on an elderly neighbor. I just don't see doing nought as being deeply kind to her any.

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I'm sure the health dept can do something. If they can't they'll point you surrounded by the right direction. If no one steps within I'd continue to take on the landlord.

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