Dying alone
By Stiletto
@Stiletto (4579)
February 8, 2013 7:33am CST
So I watched this movie last night on TV. Dreams of a Life - a true story about Joyce Vincent, a 38 year old woman who apparently died while watching TV alone in her London flat, and her body lay undiscovered for 3 years. Finally the council tried to have her evicted for rent arrears, broke down the door and found what was essentially her skeleton on the sofa, TV still on, heating on .... I mean on a superficial level I can't believe they didn't cut her electricity supply off for non-payment long before 3 years was up.
It's a sad and quite disturbing tale - by all accounts this was an attractive, intelligent, charming woman in her thirties, who died and no-one noticed - or at least didn't notice enough to find her before 3 years had passed.
I guess it's symptomatic of modern city living where people become anonymous, and have no idea who their neighbours are or whether they are ok or not. It also affected me I suppose because it's also one of my fears .... dying alone and no-one notices. I have friends and family but then so did she, and I guess none of us know what's going to happen in the future ......
But anyway my question is .... can you imagine this happening in your neigbourhood? Do you know your neigbours? Would you really notice if something was wrong? It's maybe not nice to think about but if the worst happened who would come looking for you?
More info about the movie is here http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/dec/15/dreams-of-a-life-film-review and one of the news articles from when she was found is here http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4906992.stm
2 people like this
6 responses
@MissPiggy (1748)
• Indonesia
8 Feb 13
I don't think this is going to happen in my neighborhood. Omg, I hope not! Yes, I know my neighbors. Even some of them will tell my parents if they are going somewhere for a few days and so the other way around. My parents have taught me to know my neighborhood every where I live someday just in case anything happens.
My friends will definitely ask what's going on if I don't show up at office without any notice for even just a day. So no, I hope this won't happen to me or any of my neighbors. Ever.
1 person likes this
@MissPiggy (1748)
• Indonesia
9 Feb 13
You're right. I'm glad I live in quite a small town where people still talk to each other. The big cities in my country already has this kind of individuality symptom. 
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
14 Feb 13
It's a pretty sad state of affairs. It happens often here in Australia...we hear about it in the cities but I reckon it could happen more often in regional areas where things go unreported.
I live a fairly reclusive life but I go each week and meet with a group for social interaction. If I didn't turn up enquiries would be made but other than that, if I was ill or hurt following a fall, I would likely not get any help. I think though that apart from dying, I would be able to get help via phone.
In spite of that, I can't imagine anyone here dying and no-one being aware in the small village where I live.
@braveheartpt (3037)
• Portugal
15 Feb 13
It´s very sad, some of my neighbours I just watch them a few times. It´s true that in these days we are a long distance form almost evreybody that lives so near us.
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
8 Feb 13
That is unbelievable. How could no one in her family not see that there was something wrong. Three years for no one to have heard from her at her age. That is simply crazy and scary. I know I keep in touch with my family members especially my parents who live alone. I just don't understand how not a soul on this earth was concerned enough not to check in on her. Didn't she work, what about her co-workers or employer? This is very strange. I could see this happening to an elderly person who may not have any family left. Not a thirty-eight year old woman. The people in my neighborhood are all very nice and we are there for each other. We no their schedules and would no right away if something was wrong.1 person likes this
@Cutie18f (9551)
• Philippines
9 Feb 13
That is so sad. I think people should keep in touch with family by all means. No matter how independent you might think you are, it is always good to keep in touch with family and friends through various means---the phone, internet, etc. Just keep in touch.
@ladysilver (370)
•
8 Feb 13
I find it hard to believe.The TV part is really a mystery.It's strange that no one called her or tried to find her..
Can I imagine this in my neighborhood?Yes,because it did happened once where I live.I was eleven at that time.The body of an old lady had been there for two weeks.I remember that they weren't able to break the door for some reason and they called the firemen,when they finally got in, they couldn't open the door from inside too,and the body was taken out through the window.It was the weirdest thing to watch.She lived on the fifth floor.
Anyone can die like that in today's world.I know a group of neighbors who call each other every morning to see if they're OK.They all are over 70.I think it's a good idea.Young people don't do that because they think if you're young, nothing like that can happen to you.But it does.
I wonder who would come first looking for me.Neighbors.Not friends and relatives.Good neighbors can even save your life.
