The body of an elderly woman found in an Aberdeen home had been there for years, it has emerged.
Police were called to the property in Allison Close, where the woman lived with her husband, on Thursday.
It is understood the alarm was raised after she failed to turn up for her Covid vaccination.
It is believed that when asked where she was, her husband said she was abroad.
The death is being treated as “unexplained”, however, a post mortem is being carried out to establish how she died.
Today a community leader spoke of his sadness over the situation, while a national charity urged people to look out for elderly residents.
‘This is very, very sad’
A police spokesman said: “Officers were called to an address in Allison Close, Aberdeen, on Thursday, February 25 after the body of a woman was found within. The death is being treated as unexplained and inquiries are ongoing. A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”
After she was found, forensic officers could be seen going in and out of the property where the woman lived with her elderly husband.
Local councillor Alex Nicoll said: “This is very, very sad, not only for the person involved but also for the family and friends who will be affected.
“My thoughts and sympathies go out to all of them at what is an especially difficult time.
“It is terribly, terribly sad news.”
Charity boss urges people to look out for neighbours
Brian Sloan, chief executive of Age Scotland, said isolation among older people was a growing issue with tens of thousands of people going days or even weeks without a friendly call or visit.
He said: “Before the pandemic we estimated there was one chronically lonely older person on every street in Scotland. We now believe this is much worse, with more older people feeling isolated and cut off than ever before. This is having a devastating impact on both mental and physical health.
“It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of the problem, especially with Covid-19 restrictions in place. But we can all help to look out for older people in our communities. Simply taking the time to get to know your neighbours, or having a friendly call or blether on the doorstep could make a huge difference to someone who is feeling isolated.
“If you’re concerned or haven’t seen someone for a while, then we would encourage you to check they are doing OK and ask if they need any help. Any older person can also call our free helpline for advice, information, or a chat on 0800 12 44 222.”