The death of a woman in an apparent suicide pact which was revealed in a Napier courtroom last week has come as a warning for people to be more alert to the stresses of elderly family members.
While not commenting on nor aware of the case specifically, one suicide prevention worker pointed to the work of England professor or author Colin Pritchard, who argues suicide among those aged over 75 is a sign of neglect and isolation.
About the time an 85-year-old man was appearing in Napier District Court charged with being a party to the death of his wife in a suicide pact, claimed to be linked to concerns about the woman's health, police north of Seattle in the US were finding the bodies of a couple aged in the late 70s, with notes indicating they were worried about not being able to pay medical bills.
Pritchard has written of "unexpected" research findings, saying: "Suicide amongst elderly people is usually associated with ill health, social isolation and exclusion."
"We need to rethink views on suicide, and continue to improve provision of services for elderly people and rid ourselves of ageist stereotypes," he wrote. "The majority of elderly suicides die because they are inadequately supported, or have poor medical care."
