Pensioner who died in Cork lay undiscovered for seven months

Article states he kept to himself so not that surprising. It's unfortunate and sad to read about, but it's not uncommon.

He might have preferred that to the proposed support network calling unsolicited to elderly people living alone.

He may have been a reclusive character, reluctant to engage with neighbors etc, that’s grand but if I’m that neighbor and haven’t seen the guy in a few days and you are used to see him checking his mailbox, going for a walk, to the shops, for a drink etc... I’d say fûck it, knock on his door, he might just answer, might even tell you to get lost but hey, he’s ok, you could even just open a line of communication...”hey if you need anything give me a knock”...

If in the same situation, I could definitely see myself cutting all ties with the outside world and not having any contact when I'm older, which is fine as I'm just a narky old bugger and it wouldn't bother me.
Then there's other people who are alone but not by choice and would want company if anyone would reachout to them, much sadder that this cohort exists.

freshpopcorn wrote: »

..........

The one's who I know who are lonely refuses contact with all these things/services.

They may not be actually lonely though, might have friends that are not local

Whatever the circumstances and disposition of this old man, to lie like that for seven months is a reflection on all of us, including the deceased, but hardly fair to tell Grace that her cats will eat her!

freshpopcorn wrote: »

I know people who were great people and tried to help people out. They'd do anything for anybody and expect nothing in return.
However they asked a neigbhour did they need something from the shops/etc.
They were reported help the elderly/Gardai.

So be it, you don’t ask them again, but that kind of weirdness would be in the 000.1 %

Graces7 wrote:

There are no words.

There are many words, as this is a discussion forum, not Facebook.
What next - "I can't even"?

Anyways, in urban areas, it's very easy for the elderly to disappear into the background and be forgotten, not so much in rural areas as they tend to go to the local shop only for food.
I knew a man who lived on his own up a cul-de-sac and was a bit of a recluse. He wasn't a nice person, and those who did try to help got terrible abuse from him.
There is a reason why neighbors want to avoid these people sometimes.

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Do you volunteer with elderly in your area? Or help with any support groups?

She lives on an island off the west coast of Ireland. I'd bet you a dollar she's heavily involved with her community and neighbours.

A woman near us lay dead for about ten days.
She was a particularly awkward character, who seemed to like nothing better than reporting her neighbours for many snd varied offences.
Polluting drains, noise pollution, animal welfare problems, etc etc.
The postman was not allowed enter on her property if the gate at the road was closed, she hated people pulling in on the entrance to her property and had large rocks placed along the roadside.
If a car slowed down or pulled up to make a phone call, she imagined it was a burglar casing the joint and had the gardai plagued with calls about imaginary robbers.
This went on for twenty years.
After almost two weeks of not seeing her, the postman reported it yo the gardai, and about the same time her ex husband was trying to get her on the phone and dtove down to see what was going on.
They broke in and found her dead in bed, with the electric blanket on.
The Garda Sergeant wasn't the better of it for a while.
Some people are reclusive, some are alone in the world, some are such a pain that if they aren't fighting with you you are grateful and get on with your own life.