IT'S shameful that an elderly woman had been dead for eight years before anyone realised, Police Minister Mike Gallacher says.
Natalie Wood, the elderly woman who died alone in her Sydney home had no family apart from her late brother's wife who finally alerted police yesterday.
Police went to Ms Wood's home , where they forced their way in and found her skeletal remains on the floor in her bedroom.
He confirmed the last that anyone saw her was back in 2003 and said she had not been in touch with her brother or his wife after a family dispute.
"The death eight years ago now of an elderly lady ... really does highlight the need for this state and indeed our community to work closer at building relationships with our community," Mr Gallacher said.
"To hear today that an elderly lady can pass away, be dead for eight years and for Centrelink to still be sending cheques to her bank account and for those cheques not to be cashed - surely that must set off the alarm bells within government."
Everyone dies alone and all bodies get united with soil after death.No living thing ever had any other fate. The fear of death is more painful than the death itself.
When I call, it means I'm almost dying. When I don't call, everything is fine!
I agree with Fatima, some people are recluses and prefer to be that way. My great-Uncle is like that. Prefers to live alone, doesn't like to go out, no children, no wife. My uncle and cousins call and visit as much as possible but he lives 6 hours away and refuses to move. He's always been like that. Not much you can do.
Audubillah...May God protect us all from a bad end..Aameen!
This is something that I often imagine might happen to me in my old age.. Really scary but so true..
My mom was living alone in a 3 bed apartment for many yrs.... she is in her early 60s and got heart problems otherwise she looks healthy now.... since my brother passed away..she is emotionally very low… so we made her stay next to my aunt's and cousin's house......before... whenever she don’t answer my call I get worried... now I can check with my aunt..its just next door so nothing much to worry now..
tackled that issues. Local government units are active in promoting activities for this group of people. Senior citizens in our country are those 60 years old and above!
tackled that issues. Local government units are active in promoting activities for this group of people. Senior citizens in our country are those 60 years old and above!
Such is the life of the recluse. Believe it or not there are people who actually choose to live and die this way. Specially older folks. I know of a few. They prefer to live alone and not be a burden to anyone and die alone too. Such people would shun relatives/friends etc and take pains in doing so. Now was the lady in the OP one of them?If yes, then we needn't pity her cos she lived and died the way she wanted.Had she not been of them,then its heartbreaking really.Didn't she have any kids?Personally I would never want to go that way..I guess that's why in Islam we actually have a prayer to make for a blessed old age!
yes I agree brit....
But what about the people who dont have children...who are not married etc...living alone for many yrs makes them isolated from community they dont mingle with others...they dont trust anyone....when they are healthy they will be working and making money... when they areold and sick they dont have anyone to look after or care for them...:(
This is happening all over the world. We need to make sure that old people are looked-after and looked-upon as often as possible.My local council has an initiative where they issue wrist bands with emergency buttons and locators.But the best way is for family and freinds to keep track of them whenever possible.
One of the disadvantages of having no friends or family!! thats why these days many elderly people who dont have anyone to take care opt to live in Oldage homes.
In some places in India...those elderly people who lived alone should report to the nearest police station. They call them once in a while to make sure everything si fine and also need to inform them if they are travelling alone. such inititiativers are really good...
mbk, when a person dies blowflies and fresh flies are the first carion insects to arrive and seek a suitable oviposition site because the human body or bodies of living organisms begin to decompose shortly after death..as the cells die, bacteria within the body begin breaking them down. Enzymes in the pancreas cause the organ to digest itself. The body soon takes on a gruesome appearance and smell..so it still puzzles me how on earth they did not discover the coarpse of the poor old lady..tsk..
Shish dear Australia is one big country with a small population. Maybe the old dear lived alone on the outskirts of Sydney!Funny no family or friends visited her all this time,
too much respect for elders and close family ties!
they didn't smell anything aweful all through those years?
brit whats with you and wierd news these days?
Loved the film .. You're right ... Its showed a different type of "family"
Maybe the bad side of the progressive society? We dont care for our eldery any moreI remember seeing the film and reading the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the way both Grand parents were in the same bed.