I'm afraid this is way too common. You also have those who lie dead in their appartmenst for months, and those who go missing - exept noone reports them missing. (I'm in a search-and-rescue unit. We sometimes find them waaaay to late..) My grandfather lives on the oter side of my country, and since my mother died I have trusted my aunts to "look after him". Three weeks ago i got a phonecall from one of my cousins. My grandfater was hospitalized with malnutrition and dehydration. A quick phonecall to my aunt confirmed my suspition. They never held him company at dinner. The just gave him the food and left. My cousins and I have now arranged for him to go to a nursinghome and made a scedule for visits. Hopefully this will turn to the better for him. I will personally make sure he get his favourite decorations on his walls, and a radio. And yes, he was dancing during the war, worked on the reailroad all his life, and have some wonderful stories to tell. I collect them for the future.