Woman, 76, who was living in squalor and hadn’t washed for 13 years has had her life transformed by her neighbour – who spent 60 hours cleaning her flat
Thoughtful Lucy Ashen, 39, from Fulham, West London, took action after discovering 'horror' of one-bed home
A 76-year-old woman who was living in squalor and hadn't washed for 13 years has had her life transformed by her neighbour - who spent 60 hours cleaning her flat.
Lucy Ashen, 39, had lived next to the pensioner for 21 years but only recently discovered the 'horror' of her one-bed-flat.
Mum-of-three Lucy, from Fulham, West London, decided to take matters into her own hands when she accidentally discovered the condition of her neighbour's flat - and appealed for help online.
Lucy, who does not want to name her pensioner neighbour, spent almost a fortnight cleaning and tidying her place, before kindly strangers donated enough food and furniture to fill her cupboards and home.
The mum-of-three said: "She got locked out one day and I pulled her bedroom window open.
"What I found was horrific - totally horrific. I was speechless.
"There were faeces everywhere. There was lots of furniture everywhere and cushions upside down."
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Lucy was appalled and asked the old lady, who she doesn't want to name but affectionately calls My Lady, if she could clean her flat.
Lucy said: "I gutted the entire place. I left her with a bed and a toilet."
She spent ten days binning the rotting furniture and cleaning the place while her 14-year-old daughter, Ruby, kept the lady company.
They also gave the lady, who has mental health problems, her first bath in 13 years.
Lucy said: "She's not very mobile so I helped her. I gave her a bath and cleaned her. My daughter brushed her hair."
In the meantime Lucy put a post on Facebook asking for donations of furniture, clothes and food.
She said: "It was shared and shared. It went far beyond my friends and family.
"Even people from Thailand and America got in contact."
Lucy was given fridges, sofas, clothes and was overwhelmed by the huge response.
She said: "I think it really touched a nerve with people. This could be your mum. This could be you. It could be me in a few years.
"She's lived right under all our noses."
Lucy is in the process of completely transforming the lady's flat and has created Facebook page My Lady and Me to share her progress which now has 50,000 followers.
She has also set up a Go Fund Me page to raise money to take the lady on a holiday.
Lucy said: "I think she appreciates it. I've been in her flat every day and my children have been in and out and other friends.
"She's coming out of herself bit by bit. She's been singing songs with my daughter Ruby."
Lucy hopes this raises awareness of the dangers of elderly people being isolated.
She said: "When I first saw the flat I was angry. This lady was defenceless and helpless.
"She had nobody and didn't have the mental capabilities to ask for help.
"The good thing about this is that it's bigger than her or me or anything.
"It raises awareness of mental health and elderly isolation."
So far, the fundraising page she set up has raised more than £1000 for her neighbour.
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