How sad is this?

People dying alone in their homes is a commonplace of modern society.

If the pandemic highlights this, some good may come of it.

Lots of people are estranged from family and have few or no friends and thus run the risk of dying alone.

Various organizations run telephone services, where those who live alone can ask to be rung up every day. If they don't answer someone comes to make sure they are all right.

Unfortunately, those with mental problems, or drug or alcohol abuse usually don't want to join this service.

I suspect a great many healthy people don't either and some may not want to admit that they are lonely.

being practical, I think a lot of people die alone,, wondering if it matters to the dead person? depends if suffering before.. people used to be said to die during the night in their sleep, that is how I choose to go....

ho hum.. my husband died in hospital , without any of us there... does that mean he dies alone.. can`t bear thinking about it to tell you the truth

I have a neighbour next door, about mid-fifties, who I don’t see from one week to the next. I always check to see if her rubbish is left out for collection so that I know she is OK. She has parcel deliveries almost daily, but won’t open the door to couriers when they knock so her parcels are left on the doorstep which she then retrieves later in the day. I worry sometimes that she could be unwell, or worse, I know that if anything happened to her people would question why I hadn’t done anything, but I feel I have done a lot to at least know if she is about.

When my father in law died , a neighbour was worried that she had not seen him for several days and looked through his window and noticed that his birds had no food and water and called the police, they found him on the floor upstairs. The birds were rescued and were ok.

How sad to read how many people are lonely and don't have friends or family to check up on them. Could a few of you who are in that position support one another? Perhaps send a private message and swap phone numbers?

Oh Charleygirl5, your post brought tears to my eyes. I fear I am in just such a position. It's hard to know what to do for the best.

The ex husband of a good friend of mine was found dead in his apartment after 6 months. For various reasons I was the first to be contacted by the gendarmes. It was horrendous. I had to tell my friend, who had moved away by then. As he had not remarried under French law she, as his exwife, had to deal with it all. Fortunately the authorities wouldn't let her in the appartment, but after two days of specialist cleaners they let my OH go on and get some stuff out for her. He said it was not a great experience.

This man was deeply unpleasant, racist, alcoholic, but very sad that no-one cared enough to ask why he had not been seen for so long.

Very sad, but it happens all the time, not just with the Coronavirus problem.

It’s dreadfully sad but not new. My DD is a vicar and not infrequently has to conduct funerals for such people with only the funeral director and someone from Social Services in attendance. A very difficult job as no one knows. Ugh about the deceased.

I am glad that you have a good neighbour Ellenvannin

This is something I thought about a few years ago. It is such a dreadfully sad situation. I live alone and don’t see any one person on a regular basis, even family are normally too busy to notice how much time can pass without a catch up.

I have now arranged with one friend to send a text every morning. If it doesn’t arrive she waits for an hour than calls my landline. If still no response she will ring one of several numbers I’ve given her. Of course this will only work if you’re fortunate enough to have someone you can rely on.

It's much worse when there are pets involved. I'm not so bothered about myself
dying alone, but I do worry about my pets being left to starve.

It's surprising how many of us live alone and have little contact with other people.

At the beginning of lockdown the roof was being replaced next door to us. One day they knocked at the door as our curtains were still drawn, and they wanted to check that we were Ok.

I had a " wake up call " last week as when my paper is delivered I leave it a couple of hours sticking from the letter box ( to let the virus disperse ) before pulling it out.

One morning it was sticking out of the outside letter box more than usual and a neighbour was banging on the door in a panic because he'd been out for a couple of hours and saw the paper still there. Of course I answered to door and explained that I " air " it before reading it.

Always good to know that these little signs are worth investigating.

My husband is a now retired police officer. It wasn't a regular occurrence where he worked but the few he attended were still awfully sad. We are quite lucky to live in a lovely neighbourhood where there is a good mix of age and we all look out for each other.

Ginster I do not have any family and friends live many miles away. One of my neighbours said to me a few weeks ago that they had noticed a rear outside light on 24/7 for over a week. There was a fault with it and I had not realised for days it had been running for so long but they did not bother to phone or email me.

My worry is me dying at home and my cat starving.

How awful! To be so ill and nobody to help or even know.

All this stuff reminds me of Edgar Allan Poe's stories, seriously.

I have nosy neighbours, in the very best sense, and I am grateful for that.
There are a couple of new residents who haven’t responded to friendly overtures and I guess these are the type of people who could die without anyone checking on them.

Nothing new probably worse now with the virus, neighbours assumed they were shielding. In any case people nowadays don't want to 'bother' others or 'can't be bothered', the good old British reserve! So tragic.

Poor poor souls. I couldn't think of anything worse. God bless them.

How terrible and cruel to die alone like that, it makes my worries seem trivial.
I find it unbearable to contemplate.?

So so sad. To have no one to check on how you are on a daily basis. Surely there are neighbours , friends or family !

It is maggie our SIL policeman has often been called to these sad situations, by neighbours or relatives.Accidents in the home, flu or illness generally.He’s a tough sort fortunately, but I couldn't do that job.Ditto for undertakers.

Very sad indeed, but nothing new. One of the many difficult situations our police deal with on a regular basis.