Find out what to do if you’re worried about a vulnerable adult, including elderly neighbours, friends or relatives.
If someone's had a fall or they are in immediate danger, call 999.
If you think someone is being treated badly, you can:
Contact us about someone who might need support
You can
contact us about a vulnerable person who is 18 or older and seems like they are having difficulty coping.
This could be someone who:
- is not looking after themselves or their home as well as they used to
- is being exploited or abused
- seems to have mental health problems
- seems frail or unsteady on their feet
- has signs of injury or mobility problems
- seems confused
You can call anonymously if you want to.
Before you contact us
If you do not know the person well, it’s a good idea to:
- speak to them and ask if they are okay
- ask them if they want help
- check if they have family or friends nearby who can help
- ask them if you can call their family or friends
You might find that their family or friends will be able to help them, so you do not have to contact us.
Information we’ll ask for
Tell us as much as you can, including:
- their name
- why you're worried about them
- their address
- their date of birth, if you know it
- any other information that could help us identify them
- details of their family, if you can
What happens next
We will speak to the person you have called about within three working days, though it can often be sooner if it's urgent.
We’ll make sure they’re safe. This could include calling the police or asking a social worker to look into it. We will always think about what the person wants to happen too.
We may call you to ask for more information if we need it.
If you're a family member we will call you back with an update, as long as we have the person's permission.
We cannot share someone's personal details. So if you're not a family member, we may not be able to keep you updated about any actions we take.
