Concern over high number of ‘lonely deaths’ in Japan

Dementia linked to many instances of people dying at home among family but remaining undiscovered for days

Officials in Japan have warned that dementia and the fraying of traditional community ties are contributing to a new social phenomenon - people who die at home but remain undiscovered for days, even though they were living with family.

The Mainichi Shimbun newspaper reported that 538 people died lonely deaths" while living with others in Tokyo and Osaka between 2017 and last year, prompting experts to call for more support for struggling families.