We had a retired police chief (not sure where from) living in North Dallas a few years ago start firing at us from inside his home. After he called us to report his daughter assaulting him. There was no assault. And thankfully he only had blanks in his rifle. We talked him outside and he was taken to the hospital for treatment, all guns were confiscated, next day we spent 3 hours talking to him about his time as a police officer from 1951-1985. Cool old man, he had no idea what happened the night before

I�d talk to him and find out how to get ahold of his children. Contact them and get him in a home. If he doesn�t have anyone get with the sherif and get him going where he needs to be. I had a neighbor like that and cut his grass when I cut mine for years. He was a nice old man until he went completely crazy.

Buy him a pack of dogs

Offer to send him on a trip to Mexico.

I'd call johnny law and even though they won't do anything you have it on record about the problem. (Alcohol ) Don't feed the Monkey.

I would try to contact his immediate family.
Tell them what is going on and if he gets out of hand call the police.
It's not cruel to call the cops as they deal with these things from time to time and can direct you on how to handle him if he continues which he will, until he gets the proper care.

Mental illness is something that most people don't understand, and there are medications that can help, but finding the help isn't always easy.
I know how hard it is from my own experience with a family member.

This^^^

There has to be a family member who knows exactly whats going on.

That would be my first choice prior to the law

Calling the law on him will infuriate him, and he will find out, as they always do as people with mental illness are

always very suspicious with everything and everybody.

Sounds like one of our members on THF. Dude seems normal until he gets enraged. Not gonna' mention his name, just know , he's not all there. Family has a history of mental illness.. Sad deal.

Made me laugh...

Well, you have to understand that the guy was, and had been, completely normal for years. No sign of craziness at all. So it wasn�t like I was giving a crazy guy booze. His wife has been in and out of the hospital for the last year, and lost half her foot due to diabetes. He would come over to tell us about her struggles, and we�d have one drink. We got along great, and my wife would send over food for them each week. Just neighbors being neighbors, until yesterday. Maybe he has slipped into dementia.

Our other neighbor, in a chat this morning, said the guy has been acting strange. I told him about what happened yesterday.

I agree with scalebuster and jimbo. I've seen many people with Dementia/Alzheimer's who had kids and/or grand-kids living in other areas who didn't fully realize how bad things had gotten. Some step up and help when notified, some don't, but they definitely need to know if they don't already. Some counties have Alzheimer's organizations with people who can provide a lot of great information and assistance for the family. The counties that don't are often part of the "operating area" of the other counties so the services are still available. As others have said, this is not something that can be fixed but it can be managed to some degree as it gets worse. It sounds like this man may be very close to the point of not being able to live by himself. I can guarantee you what you're seeing is the tip of the iceberg.
Bipolar Disorder is a different animal. I don't know if he has actually been diagnosed as Bipolar, but I do know Alzheimer's can make you think they're Bipolar when they aren't.
It's really heart breaking seeing someone go through this, especially when you knew them before onset. It's also very difficult for those of us who aren't living it to empathize with the person because we tend to focus on what they're doing to us instead of what they're experiencing. It's unfortunate but it's just human nature. It's very difficult, but I would try to keep your relationship with him as normal as you can (while keeping yourself safe). As this disease progresses, it's very possible you will be the guy's only remaining friend because it tends to push others away.

Did you read about �sundowning� and how it affects people with dementia?

We are approaching the full moon

WHATEVER! Take it back!! You don�t know me! Bring it!! I wipe with 100�s! You wanna go???

I am 100% convinced this is a HUGE factor in lots of shenanigans, tomfoolery, ballyhoo, and just plain craziness from people.

He just pi$$ed his electric BILL is late.

The problem with the neighbors is pretty big. The diabetic wife (a very big woman) can�t walk, so has to be helped to the toilet. She has huge medical problems. If she falls to the floor, he can�t lift her. The crazy (newly crazy) guy is all the support she has, and maybe he�s almost too far gone to adequately do it. It�s a train wreck. Their kids and grandkids don�t have much to do with them, and haven�t for years. Whatever happens is going to be ugly, and it�s coming fairly soon. Nothing I can do, or now want to do, so I�ll wait till the buzzards circle. I can�t trust going over there, since the craziness yesterday and the fact that he�s always packing a small pistol.

I did read up on sundowning. I can�t even guess if this is a factor.

If you have to confront a neighbor who you are having problems with, use the voice recorder on your cell phone. It's always good to have something to prove what really happened or what was said. Don't underestimate what people will fabricate when they tell the story of your interaction with them.

My dad is suffering from Parkinsons & Dimensia. The dillusions are real to him, and like what was said earlier, his brain is going. His neighbor is his best friend, and has come by many times in the middle of the day or night to pick him up when he falls. He imagined his best friend was having an affair with my step mom (both 75+), and pulled a gun on him. That's when we knew it was time to hide anything he could hurt himself or someone else with.
His condition is in advanced stages now, and he's not living on our farm anymore, as my step mom simply can't care for him. He's in a full care facility in Athens. Terrible disease, and even worse on the family.

Prayers for all of you dealing with this.....something I haven�t had to deal with yet....thankfully...

603Country,

The way we handle this in the dischage of our duties is remember they are elderly and try to talk to them. When that doesn't work, we have to protect ourselves. No they are not in their right minds, same as someone extremely hypoglycemic, but our safety takes priority. Fortunately we travel in packs, and can restrain someone. You don't have that luxury.

Avoid harming him if you can, but on your ground, you are the head master. Protect yourself, I'll leave it at that.

Post a pic of said electric bill.