Tacoronte Woman's Diogenes Syndrome Sparks Health Crisis

Dulce Peraza, a resident of Tacoronte, has reached her breaking point. For most of her life, she has been struggling with her sister, who has a 65% mental disability. Her sister also suffers from paranoia and Diogenes syndrome, a condition that leads to extreme social isolation, severe neglect of personal hygiene, and compulsive hoarding of rubbish, creating very unsanitary living conditions.

Dulce explains that in 2008, her sister voluntarily admitted herself to the psychiatric ward of the Hospital Universitario de Canarias (HUC) and was later moved to Febles Campos. However, their mother persuaded the staff that 'she had a small house in Tacoronte,' and her sister was discharged.

They lived together for a year, a period marked by constant mistreatment of their mother, leading to frequent calls and complaints to the Civil Guard. When their mother died in 2009, the situation became much worse. Her sister, referred to here as María (a made-up name to protect her privacy), was left alone in the house. Since then, neighbors have continuously complained about the piles of rubbish, foul smells, and the spread of rodents in the area. This ongoing conflict is incredibly difficult for Dulce to handle.

Dulce hears daily reports that her sister is naked, shouting, or pushing a cart full of rubbish. The most heartbreaking part is that Dulce feels powerless; like many people with mental disorders and this syndrome, María refuses to cooperate. Many neighbors are scared of María because she intimidates them, making them reluctant to report her. Despite this, they gathered signatures to demand action from the City Council, as the bad smells permeate their homes and rats jump in the rubbish, which they believe María feeds, posing a health risk. 'I am always apologizing to an elderly man whom she has threatened,' Dulce says.

Each time the police call Dulce about her sister's actions, it's 'a new shock.' Officers have even advised her not to approach María, or at least not alone, because María has assaulted her several times. 'It's difficult to live like this,' Dulce remarks.

María collects all sorts of rubbish, piling it up to the edge of her property at Calle Tacoronte Tejina 20, right where it meets the public road. She also defecates on the stairs between the TF-152 and TF-16 roads, in the very heart of the town.

Because María's property is private, workers from Urbaser, the cleaning company, cannot go onto her land to clear the rubbish; she would report them to the City Council. They only clean when the rubbish spills over into public areas, like the staircase. 'But she just piles it up again, and we're back to square one,' neighbors complain. They worry the City Council won't take action until a serious incident occurs.

Dulce has reported her sister to various authorities, but the Ombudsman (Diputado del Común) closed her case, leaving her unsure of what else to do. Her feeling of helplessness at not being able to help María is immense. It's especially painful knowing that her 70-year-old sister has had cancer for four years, yet 'she is eating from the trash, living miserably, abandoned on the street in this cold when she should be medicated, clean, in a care home, and accompanied,' Dulce insists.

Instead, María sleeps on a mountain of waste. Despite receiving a pension of almost 900 euros a month, her home has no water or electricity, and neighbors say she 'often bathes in supermarket restrooms.'

Dulce previously had a public defender but became frustrated because 'he wasn't taking it seriously,' and she can't afford a private lawyer. She is now appealing to the City Council, urging them to use the social services reports they have to 'help her and find a way to declare her legally incapacitated so she can be admitted to a care facility and live a better life.'

Despite María's diagnosis, data protection laws prevent medical professionals from sharing information about her condition with Dulce. Dulce doesn't even know if her sister is following her prescribed treatment, though she is certain María isn't taking her medication.

Dulce has contacted social services many times, but they consistently tell her the matter is outside their responsibility. Local councilor José Caro confirms that the City Council has opened several files concerning María. However, he clarifies that social services 'are not for evicting people but for helping those in vulnerable situations.'

Caro adds that 'the area's legal expert has started several legal procedures, informing the court of this woman's situation.' On one occasion, after a complaint from Dulce, 'the judge, the court secretary, and a forensic doctor visited.' The doctor prepared a report confirming María suffered from certain mental illnesses. However, the court's decision did not recommend her admission to a psychiatric institution, instead stating that the Tacoronte City Council should resolve the issue.

The councilor specifies that María has been seen by social services several times and summoned for other appointments, which she did not attend. 'In 2025, she had two appointments, on June 24 and July 2, and did not attend either,' Caro states, adding that she has also been seen by appointment on other occasions, though there is no official record of these.

Both José Caro and Dulce Peraza confirm that the Local Police recently started another legal process in the courts of La Laguna. This case has been sent to administrative litigation to report María's ongoing situation and the harm she is causing to residents and the municipality. 'We are awaiting the municipal technician to present the report, as it is the City Council that must do so,' the councilor stresses.