A SOUTHAMPTON bank cashier saved the life of one of her customers and has played a key role in his life ever since.

It was back in 2014 that Lynda Bailey, who has worked for HSBC at various city branches for 43 years, saved the life of an elderly regular visitor to the bank.

“For many years, he would come in every Friday without fail to withdraw the same specific number of coins,” explains Lynda.

“When Mr Griffen didn’t come in for a couple of weeks I got worried, and phoned round the hospitals and then the police.”

When officers arrived at his home, they found Mr Griffen – who also has Asperger’s syndrome and is now 82 - close to death.

Collapsed and severely dehydrated, the pensioner was rushed to hospital.

Lynda later discovered Mr Griffen had dementia and had outlived family and friends.

Daily Echo:

“Everybody needs somebody and I couldn’t leave him on his own,” says Lynda, from Sholing. “I’ve come to think of him as a member of my own family.

“I had a husband and teenage children at the time and my father had recently passed away. But I felt that Mr Griffen didn’t have anyone, and I should support him as well.”

When Lynda went to Mr Griffen’s Upper Shirley home to get his front door mended, she found there was no central heating, no electric and smashed windows. Floorboards were missing because he had set fire to them for heat.

Determined to help the pensioner stay in his beloved home of 70 years, Lynda used her inheritance money to help make it habitable.

But navigating the social care system on Mr Griffen’s behalf proved to be a challenge. Lynda struggled to find quality professional carers to visit him at home and to access all the healthcare support he needed.

It was only when she was told earlier this year that Alzheimer’s Society offered practical support that things finally got easier.

Daily Echo:

She was introduced to Dawn Arundell, a Southampton-based Dementia Support Navigator who has proved to be a lifeline.

  • If you, a loved one, friend or neighbour needs dementia support, call Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Connect support line on 0333 150 3456 or visit alzheimers.org.uk