Too little information given in the article for me to judge. They checked on her once a day. They could have been uneducated about Alzheimer's Disease. They could have been struggling financially and needed to work. They may not have been able to afford to hire help for her (money is not available in all States anymore to help people who need it). OR they could have been flat out neglectful. Now that she is in the hospital, and will probably die, there will be an investigation and follow up article, I am sure.
I have a neighbor who has not been declared incompetent. She can't care for herself-much too confused. No local family. APS won't intervene yet. When snowbird family was here they tried everything to get her help or placed. Woman refused all help. What do you do?
I figured if the article said relativeS there was more than one so there should be someone who could check on her from 8.00 in the morning. How about a neighbour?
There is a limit to how much you can impose on neighbors. By choice I take care of one. Another lives across the street and always needs something. Her sister from across the country calls me to tell me how happy she is that I look after the woman. I told her I don't and don't want to be the responsible person. After all the years of taking care of my husband I am all tapped out.
The Hospital can petition for a Court Appointed Guardian for her. She would need to be decl;ared i ncompetent to act in her own best interests---a danger to herself. The Guardian does not have to be a family member or even related. The Guardian would have authority to determne and setup care as needed. The Guardian answers to the Court and is not a free agent.