Lucy Ashen lived next door to an elderly woman who was frequently alone and had no one to care for her for more than 21 years. She tried for years to be friendly and connect with her neighbor, but the woman was often isolated and anti-social. Lucy, a compassionate mother of three from West London, saw her neighbor in need and came outside to help her get back into her house.
But she was unprepared for what she was about to face. Lucy gasped as she opened her neighbor’s bedroom window; she saw a room that was the result of a struggling elderly woman with a few mental health issues who was unable to care for herself and was doing her best to survive. She discovered trash, feces, and mold everywhere, as well as upside-down cushions and nearly all of her furniture destroyed. The woman, too, lacked a bed and had been sleeping on the hard floor…
“I was angry when I first saw the flat,” Lucy explained. “She was defenseless and helpless.” She had no one and lacked the mental fortitude to seek assistance.” Lucy’s kind heart made the decision to act. She needed help from her friends to donate some of the basic necessities that her neighbor required to survive, so she posted the following on Facebook: “For those of you who don’t know the story so far…… I’ve lived in Fulham my entire life, and I’ve been in this neighborhood for 21 years….and I have an elderly neighbor.
She lives alone in a one-bedroom flat and suffers from mental health issues. I am not allowed to name her for legal reasons, so I will refer to her as She refers to me as “My Lady.” Locket of Lucy. This lady had been living in indescribable filth and squalor for the previous ten days. There was no food, filthy clothes, no one to assist her in bathing, and nothing but loneliness and despair.
I had tried numerous times over the last few years to gain access to her property in order to assist her because I knew she was living in less-than-ideal conditions; I just didn’t realize how bad they were. What I saw when she finally let me in will stay with me for the rest of my life! It was terrifying! NO ONE SHOULD LIVE LIKE THIS! So, without thinking, I gutted her house!
Everything, I mean everything, went down to the toilet seat. I knew I needed help at this point, so I posted a request for assistance on Facebook, along with a list of what she required. I had no idea what was going to happen next! The response has been incredible! Within 24 hours, I had completed roughly 80% of the list! The offers of assistance, donations of goods, and beautiful messages of support continue to amaze me.
It took me over 60 hours of cleaning to get her flat ready for her to live in, and I’m still not done after 11 days! But thanks to the kindness and generosity of those who donated items, I was able to transform her house into a home. She has everything she needs, including a bed to sleep in (she was sleeping on the floor), clean furniture, new bedding, beautiful new clothes, three meals a day, and, most importantly, company. She has truly been saved from a lonely and degrading life; she has been restored to dignity,
and I intend for her to live out the rest of her days in comfort and love. a Because of the outpouring of kindness from more people than I could have imagined, I felt compelled to create this page to keep those who helped us updated on our journey. People were genuinely concerned for her well-being and offered helpful advice, so I’d like to keep them up to date on how her care is progressing.
Lucy was able to raise more than 2000 pounds for her neighbor via a GoFundMe page after discovering her neighbor living in abject poverty with no one to care for her. She received a new bed, new furniture, and a large amount of food from her generous Facebook friends, and she spent a significant amount of time transforming her neighbor’s apartment into a clean and cozy home.
“I believe she appreciates it.” Every day, I’ve been in her flat, as have my children and other friends. She’s gradually coming out of herself. She’s been singing songs with Ruby, my daughter.” Lucy’s story has been shared by thousands of people on social media, and she hopes that her experience will help raise awareness about the issue of elderly people being isolated and alone.
“I believe it struck a chord with people. It could be your mother. This could very well be you. “In a few years, it could be me,” Lucy speculated. “She’s been living right under our noses.” One 76-year-old elderly woman was able to sleep well in a comfortable bed thanks to Lucy’s kind heart, love for her neighbor, and the kindness of her community. She has food in her pantry and is aware that she is loved; that others care about her and that she is not alone.
If you have an elderly neighbor, consider dropping by once in a while to say hello and see if they need anything. Our seniors’ lives are not always easy, especially when they are isolated and alone. Don’t forget to be kind to the elderly; they are often the most lonely among us and require our love. If Lucy’s kindness touched you, please share her story with your friends and family online to spread the love.