Roaches, unsafe living conditions, and a system stretched to its breaking point
Sometimes heroes wear shorts and drive delivery trucks.
A FedEx driver on his route through 7th Street in Portsmouth noticed dogs barking and what sounded like someone groaning inside a home. Trusting his instincts, he called for help — setting off a chain of events that revealed a disturbing case of neglect and the limits of what our local services can do.
WHAT OFFICERS FOUND
When Portsmouth Police arrived for a welfare check, they called in Adult Protective Services (APS) and City Code Enforcement Officer Andy Gedeon. The scene they walked into was shocking:
- Roaches covering the ceiling, floor, and even the patient herself
- Animal feces matted into the flooring
- A home in such disrepair it was condemned on the spot
The elderly woman inside had recently undergone surgery and was living in these conditions without adequate care. Neighbors had been trying to help but admitted the infestation and the state of the home made it nearly impossible.
💔 THE SYSTEM IS STRAINED
APS workers tried to find someone — family, friends, or neighbors — who could take her in. But there were no after-hours emergency resources for elderly neglect cases.
The sad truth? In Scioto County, the only immediate placement services available after hours are for drug addiction, not for vulnerable seniors or children in unsafe homes.
Children’s Protective Services (CPS) and APS both fall under Jobs and Family Services, an agency already overwhelmed and under-resourced. Officers noted that even with everyone doing their best, the system simply has too few hands and too little funding to handle the demand.
🏥 THE OUTCOME
The woman refused to leave at first but eventually agreed to go to the hospital for evaluation. Officers had no legal cause to force a psychiatric hold, and APS couldn’t take action until morning.
🙌 PRAISE WHERE IT’S DUE
FedEx driver: For staying alert, speaking up, and possibly saving a life.
Portsmouth Police & Code Enforcement: For doing everything they could within the limits of the law.
Neighbors: For trying to help in a situation that was beyond their ability to fix.
💡 WHAT YOU CAN DO IF YOU SUSPECT NEGLECT
📞 Call 911 if someone’s immediate safety is at risk.
📋 Report to APS or CPS during business hours for follow-up care.
👥 Offer short-term help (meals, cleaning, transport) if it’s safe to do so.
🗣 Advocate for change — tell local leaders we need emergency resources for vulnerable seniors and kids, not just those in drug crisis.
Because sometimes, the difference between life and death is just one watchful neighbor — or a FedEx driver who cared enough to knock.
