Experts believe more cases remain unreported. For instance, when Bobby Tan’s aunt, 77, died in her home, it was days later when her neighbours, alerted by an unusual odour, called the police. By then, her body had begun decomposing on her sofa.
Heng and Tan’s aunt are only two of the many elderly individuals who live or have lived in solitude.
The population of residents aged 65 and over has nearly doubled, from 378,640 in 2012 to 678,130 in 2022. Of these, the percentage of those living alone has risen from 17.6 per cent to 23.1 per cent during that period.
Who are the people who fade away unnoticed and alone? What follows in the aftermath of these lonely deaths?
CNA’s new series, Dead Alone In Singapore, explores the nuanced truths of dying alone from the perspectives of those at risk and those who witness these poignant events. Here are three reasons to watch it.
WATCH PART 1: Living and dying alone in Singapore — Facing lonely deaths (45:41)
