 |
 |
 |
 |
Shocking study finds 60 home alone deaths a week and men 2½ times likely to die alone - Burstow
December 29, 2005 9:02 PM
As many as 60 people a week die alone in their homes and men are two and half times more likely to die alone than women, these are the disturbing findings of original research by the Liberal Democrat MP Paul Burstow.
A survey of local councils by Paul Burstow assessed the number of funerals carried out by for people who die without any family or friends to make arrangements or cover the costs.
The survey found that:
A total of 11,004 funerals were carried out between 2000 and 2004 by the 182 councils who provided data
Projecting the figures supplied by 182 councils for the 266 councils responsible for arranging such funerals would suggest up to 16,083 deaths between 2000 and 2004.
Nearly three-quarters of these funerals were for males, compared to 28 per cent for females: this trend has remained constant over the five years for which we collected data
Men were more than two-and-a-half times more likely to die alone than women
Women who die alone however were likely to be nearly ten years older than males, tending to be between the ages of 75 and 80
Figures were provided by almost 70% of local authorities who carry out this duty.
Paul Burstow said:
"These figures are a sobering reminder that thousands of older people across the country not only live, but also die alone, uncared for and often in poverty.
"Being cut off from friends, family and neighbours undermines all quality of life. It is an indictment of society that too many people are left to fade away, unable to make ends meet and lonely on the fringe of our communities.
"We all have a responsibility to look out and care for vulnerable neighbours, friends and relatives, not just at this time of year."
These findings are from a report by Paul Burstow, Dying Alone: Assessing isolation, loneliness and poverty, which can be found on the Reports page of this website.
ENDS.
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats
-
Help out or donate
-
Tell us what you think