A LEADING charity says the case of an elderly woman who died in a council-run sheltered housing complex in Hull raises serious questions about cuts to social care.
The body of the pensioner, who has not been named, was found in her flat at Charles Brady Court in Diadem Grove, east Hull, on August 7.
She was last seen alive in the last week of June.
According to residents living there, a council warden visits the development twice a week.
However, when the complex opened in 1993, one of the 37 flats was reserved for a live-in warden.
It is believed the change to a mobile visiting warden service happened a number of years ago.
Michelle Mitchell, director general at the Age UK charity, said: "Without the full facts, it is hard to comment on this tragic case.
"But older people who move into sheltered accommodation are entitled to expect some level of regular contact from a support worker or warden and this appears to be shocking story of an older person who has been let down in this respect.
"With the on-going crisis in provision of social care and cuts to vital services, older people are missing out on essential care that could be the difference between staying active and part of the community and being totally on their own.
"Living in isolation and loneliness is a stark reality for many older people so, if possible, people should check on older neighbours and relatives or make time to pop in and see if they are okay.
"Local branches of Age UK also provide their own befriending schemes, day centres, lunch clubs and digital training to help older people to stay in touch."
The charity, which was one of Councillor Danny Brown's chosen charities during his recent year as Lord Mayor of Hull, recently carried out a study that found 3.5 million elderly people faced a life alone without any help or friendship from their neighbours.
The charity warned that loneliness affected physical health and could be as damaging as smoking or obesity to an older person.
The charity's findings from a survey of 1,000 over-65s also revealed that more than half of all older people see the television as their main form of company.
The city council is also asking people to keep a check on elderly and vulnerable people.
Laura Carr, the council's neighbourhood and housing manager, said: "We would always encourage family members and neighbours to look out for the elderly as much as possible."
The pensioner's death is not believed to have been treated as suspicious. An inquest will be held in December.
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