Living & Dying Alone In Singapore: Facing Lonely Deaths | Dead Alone In Singapore - Part 1

In recent years, more lonely deaths were reported in the media and at least 37 cases were reported in 2023. Who were they and how did they landed up dying alone?

In part one of this series, we meet an expert, Corinne Ghoh who decided to track the cases as there were no official data, uncovering the social dimension of this phenomenon. We also meet Rahman Razali, the trauma cleaner being tasked with cleaning the remnants of decomposed bodies, reveals stories of solitary lives.

Heng Aik Min, who is fear of dying alone at home, shares his worries and how he is trying to prevent his body from decomposing till the state that would affect others. And Linda Tan, an eldercare programme executive, who claims unclaimed body and execute their last rites.

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About the show: Lonely death looks to be a growing phenomenon here in Singapore. We speak to those living alone, to those impact by such tragic deaths and those who deal with the aftermath of theses deaths.
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#CNAInsider #DeadAloneInSingaporeCNA #SocialIsolation #Loneliness #LonelyDeaths

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[celestialstar]

Trauma cleaner isn't a job most people can do or cope. I have high respect for them.

[celestialstar]

It hurts so much when the uncle said he purposely keep his main door open so if he die, people can find out sooner. 😭

[tanchye]

Simple solution (1 way)
1. Elder people can rent out their flat.
Rent out to foreign workers with ‘s’ pass at a low rate. Their pay is usually low and will be glad to stay at where they can afford.
It’s a win/win situation.
They help to pay for your water/electricity bills.
2. I rent out mine and I am 76+ yrs now. Tenants now are like my children. They ‘take care’ of me and I take care of them like my children.
3. Their rooms/my room are not lock.
When they go to work I tidy up their rooms & do gardening 🪴 & house cleaning.
When they come home they cook and we eat with together.
They help to clean the house on their off days.
They are happy, I am happy. 🙏
…and stay healthy.

[Aurica]

This hits so hard, I cried when they show the muslim women who died alone. Her son bought her a bag that she wanted very much. Her husband passed on and she lived alone.

[yukiefromoz]

What is sad is broken relations between immediate family members.

[ravenjaxsnerdymommy]

My dad died alone. He kept pushing me away the two days before he died. A few months before that, I forced him to give me the keys to his house. As a result, those first two days, I would just come in to check on him as he yelled at me to leave. I found him the 3rd day. As his child, I always wonder what those last moments were like.

[dominique-valois]

As I watch this, I may be one of those who will be dying alone.

I am not afraid of death, I am afraid of the transitioning to being dead.

[klover]

I am 73 male living alone too but my younger bro phone me everyday told him if if he don't hear me for 2 days continously check me i gave him a set of key i have chronic illnesses from head to toe former stroke heart problem inc i think i need

[wongxinhao]

Watched another video by MOSG which featured Rahman's teenage daughter who does the trauma cleaning with him. Kudos to Rahman and his family for doing such a underrated job.

[celestialstar]

Dying in hospital is better than dying alone at home. 😢

This episode actually make me cry

[suzyzoo]

When you are old, whether you choose to stay alone or have to stay alone, be prepared for this.

[johnji]

We all have to accept that we die one day. While you're alive, live your life fully, peacefully and joyfully. I have absolutely no fear of lonely death. However, the fear of dying slowly and painfully in sickness is more frightened than dying alone.

[hijaques]

Really heart of gold. Salute and respect. Esp Linda who even bought the late Mr Ho clothes for the last sent off. 😢

[izora_chan]

Dying alone sounds like such a scary prospect to me...Rest in peace to all the deceased 😢

[KanojoRinko]

The elderly Muslim lady passing away at home is really tragic. I think people didn't notice her death because those who knew her thought someone would find out if she died. She actively befriended one of her neighbour's daughter, participated in social events in the community, and her son even checked in on her weekly. But she slipped through the gaps precisely because she had such a strong safety net. We tend to keep to ourselves so sometimes maybe people don't like to be 'kay poh' or overreacting when no one replies. I just feel so much for her son and her daughter-in-law, they need therapy to grieve over such a traumatic experience.

Kudos to the trauma cleaners for their hard work! It definitely isn't an easy job but a necessary one.

[Almsoo]

If I recall correctly, I recently came across an article about a place in Japan where the elderly have an agreed daily practice of hanging specific colored flags outside their door to let their neighbours know they are alive, as Japan also has a high rate of lonely deaths at home.

[HermitQuack]

Saw this three part documentary on TV. Finally it is here on YouTube. Now we know what is trauma cleaning. Next of kin is important. Thank you Cheng Hong Welfare Service Society.😢

[doreenl]

When her son said his mother lying on the location where she wanted to find him who was used to sleep there breaking my heart

[w.qbuffy]

This series makes me cry. But at the same time heartened that there are kind souls out there who care. Kudos to CNA for yet another brilliant documentary 👍

[gohalvin]

Kudos to the cleaners and also the communal support that various agencies for providing. This is a wake-up call to younger family member to always stay in touch with your elderly family member . For those already living alone and without intruding their privacy, possible to get them wearable heart-beat tracking device ? This is just my 2 cents worth of opinion.