Another tragedy involving an elderly person living alone and dying without anyone knowing has occurred in Kwei Chong. This morning (August 6), Housing Authority staff visited a unit in Shing Yat Building of Kwei Shing East Estate to search for the 77-year-old female resident who had been missing for a long time. However, upon entering the unit, they found a skeleton lying on the bed. It is understood that Mrs. Yuen was not a case being followed up by the Social Welfare Department's social workers. The Social Welfare Department replied to inquiries from Hong Kong 01, stating that they would attempt to contact the family of the elderly person to provide appropriate assistance. A 70-year-old woman was found dead in her home in Kwei Shing East Estate. (Photo by Wong Hok Yuen) It is understood that the calendar in the involved unit stopped at the end of November 2023, and the shopping receipts inside the unit also indicate that the deceased died around that time. It is estimated that she had been dead for over 1.5 years, and her body had turned into bones lying on the bed in the room. Police arrived to investigate, and paramedics confirmed that the 77-year-old Ms. Yuen had died on the scene. The police have contacted her two sons to understand the situation and have summoned a coroner to transport the body to the morgue. This is the second incident this year involving an elderly person living alone dying in their home and turning into bones. On May 7 of this year, an 83-year-old single man, Mr. Au, died in his home in Shek Lei Estate in Kwei Chong and was found by Housing Authority staff who came to collect the property. It is understood that the police initially estimated that Mr. Au may have died over a year ago, with his bones scattered on the toilet seat, and the forensic doctor needed time to collect the broken bones and reassemble them. In addition to this case, at least six cases involving individuals living alone dying in their units, decaying to the point of visible bones, or even turning into bones have occurred in Hong Kong from 2013 to now, with five of these cases discovered by the Housing Authority when they visited to collect rent or reclaim the property. The Social Welfare Department stated that the department has established 214 elderly regional centers and elderly neighborhood centers (elderly centers) across Hong Kong, providing various support services for the elderly at the community level, including counseling, assistance in applying for long-term care services, emotional support, social and recreational activities, meal services, and caregiver training. Elderly regional centers also have elderly support service teams that identify elderly individuals who live alone, are hidden, have health issues, poor living conditions, or economic difficulties and provide appropriate assistance, including visiting the elderly by phone or in person, helping with personal needs, emotional support, and referral services. The Social Welfare Department urges the public to contact their local Integrated Family Service Center or elderly center, or call the Social Welfare Department hotline at 2343 2255 for assistance if they notice an elderly person in need of support. In addition, the 'Community Service and Care Team - Supporting the Elderly and Caregivers Program' has been implemented in all 18 districts of Hong Kong, where the 'Care Team' helps identify elderly individuals living alone and elderly households with caregivers and caregivers of people with disabilities who may need assistance, providing care and support services, including introducing social welfare services and community information, and referring cases that require assistance to social welfare service units. The Lament of the Elderly Living Alone | An 80-year-old man's bones have been kept in the morgue for a month and may be buried at Sha Ling. 679 elderly people have become ghosts over three years. The Lament of the Elderly Living Alone | The elderly fear being a bother and may become hidden. Social workers advocate for a database to help identify high-risk individuals. The Lament of the Elderly Living Alone | Social circle withered, afraid of disturbing the son, 82-year-old woman decided to die without anyone knowing. The Lament of the Elderly Living Alone | The elderly man is estimated to have died a year ago and turned into bones. The Housing Authority discovered this when collecting the property. How to prevent lonely deaths? An 80-year-old man turned into a skeleton | Housing Authority: The tenant had not paid rent since February, and the staff had knocked on the door each time without any abnormality or odor. The Lament of the Elderly Living Alone | An 80-year-old man died and turned into a skeleton, no one knew. Social Welfare Department: Will try to find family members to provide assistance. The Lament of the Elderly Living Alone | An elderly man's bones were found in his home, district council member advocates for an inter-departmental database to identify high-risk individuals. The Lament of the Elderly Living Alone | 80-year-old sick man lived alone for 25 years, stopped receiving Comprehensive Allowance, owed rent for three months, turned into bones without anyone knowing. An elderly man lived alone in Shek Lei Estate in Kwei Chong, had not paid rent for several months, and when Housing Authority staff visited, they were shocked to find bones.