Thousands of British elderly die alone

Thousands of elderly British people die alone in their homes every year without being noticed and increasing numbers live out their final years in abject isolation, a survey has found.

Research found that the ageing population was losing the will to live through a lack of personal contact with friends or visitors. In the worst cases, single pensioners were led into depression and suicide.

The Women's Royal Voluntary Service, a charity fighting social exclusion, found that 12,000 older people in Britain died alone and undiscovered in their homes every year, the equivalent of 32 isolated deaths a day.

The National Opinion Poll survey found that 72 per cent of old people saw two or fewer people a day.