discussion Japan: 4,000 people died alone in their houses only to be discovered months later

[Talento]

Almost 40,000 people died alone in their homes in Japan during the first half of 2024, a report by the country's police shows.

Of that number, nearly 4,000 people were discovered more than a month after they died, and 130 bodies went unmissed for a year before they were found, according to the National Police Agency.

 

The agency hopes its report will shed light on the country's growing issue of vast numbers of its aging population who live, and die, alone.

 

Taken from the first half of 2024, the National Police Agency data shows that a total of 37,227 people living alone were found dead at home, with those aged 65 and over accounting for more than 70%.

While an estimated 40% of people who died alone at home were found within a day, the police report found that nearly 3,939 bodies were discovered more than a month after death, and 130 had lain unnoticed for at least a year before discovery.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyx6wwp5d5o

 

Edited September 2 by Talento

[Trent W]

Does anyone notice the smell? Like any neighbors after months?

 

Japan also is the future of most countries, we are young now, but most of us are child free, if we make it into old age this might be a common occurrence in the west and other countries

 

I think this is why it's important to start building solid communities, having more kids is not the solution but new systems that protect everyone.

[Princess Aurora]

How can't they notice that someone passed away? That's scary 

[LittleCupid]

Reminds me of Joyce Carol Vincent being dead in her apartment for years without anyone noticing.

[Mr.X]

Isolation and loneliness are some of the biggest evils of capitalist societies. These poor people need community

[getBusy]

18 minutes ago, Trent W said:

I think this is why it's important to start building solid communities,

Mi hubby and I have been saying this forever. We want to retire in some sort of community/compound with our friends, where we all have our own apartment/house but we're able to check in on each other frequently.

[gatito]

that's too sad 

[BrokenMachine]

It's so sad that their families, friends or neighbors wouldn't even care for them at all...

[BrokenMachine]

1 hour ago, Trent W said:

Does anyone notice the smell? Like any neighbors after months?

It would depend on how isolated the houses are. Also if they're in winter the smell won't be that strong

 

1 hour ago, Trent W said:

Japan also is the future of most countries, we are young now, but most of us are child free, if we make it into old age this might be a common occurrence in the west and other countries

 

I think this is why it's important to start building solid communities, having more kids is not the solution but new systems that protect everyone.

It's a cultural thing as a whole. This kind of 'western dream' of living apart by your own on your retirement home once you get old has been too implanted in the minds of current generations. 

 

Where I live it's kind of a norm, and even when we're more open to help our elderly family, most of them get reluctant to admit they need help once they're past 80, since it's too hard for them to get rid of this 'I can do it by myself' mindset

[Vixen Eyes]

This is where the conservatives enter the chat and say "this is why childless mothers need to have kids" etc

 

These people just didn't have any relatives or friends in the area smh

[znake]

poor people,  but i hope population reduces a lot, so our planet can breath and recover 

[LegaMyth]

My heart is so hurt by this. 

 

Globally, society has pushed the "work, grind, hustle" society, not realizing that we've forgot about human interactions, families coming together, and relationships. 

 

Society in EVERY COUNTRY is doomed. 

[PillowCase]

This happened to my neighbor who was a kind old man somewhere in his 70's. We noticed because of the smell. I posted about it in the generation 5 pokemon rate but mostly it went unnoticed.

[Breathe On Moi]

I'd like to think that post-Covid definitely had a major impact on these type of numbers, and isolation generally has become the "norm" in the last 4 years whether we want to admit it, or not. 
 

either you die alone miserably or you die miserable with the family whom you probably hate/has done you wrong. we're doomed. 

[Breathe On Moi]

9 minutes ago, PillowCase said:

We noticed because of the smell. I posted about it in the generation 5 pokemon rate but mostly it went unnoticed.

[Elementary]

What about it? You can't infer a person lived a sad depressive life just because they were found dead alone. Some people like being alone and that should be a perfectly valid way of living. 

[Mrnoniee]

17 hours ago, LittleCupid said:

Reminds me of Joyce Carol Vincent being dead in her apartment for years without anyone noticing.

was it the case, her bills were being paid, lawn was being mowed and cable tv was on?
and someone only noticed because of vast number of parcels/mails at her doorstep.

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problem is people hoarding money, billionaires keeping money and not giving it to needy, govt not spending on housing, welfare and immigration being an issue. America already has this problem