Elderly woman found dead in New Upper Changi Road flat after neighbours notice foul smell

SINGAPORE: A 69-year-old woman was found dead in her flat on Wednesday evening (2 July) after neighbours reported a foul smell that had persisted for several days.

The incident occurred around 6pm at Block 30, New Upper Changi Road, where the woman is believed to have lived alone in a three-room HDB flat.

Residents said the odour had been noticeable in the corridor for several days before someone alerted the authorities.

Hong, 20, a neighbour, told Shin Min Daily News that he saw several police officers entering the flat earlier that evening. “Later, we learned that a body had been found inside,” he said.

When reporters arrived at about 8pm, multiple police vehicles and a hearse were stationed at the foot of the block. A strong smell filled the corridor near the unit as officers took photographs inside.

Hong said the woman kept to herself and rarely interacted with others. “She was rather introverted and didn’t talk to neighbours much,” he said.

Another resident, Liao, 34, who works at a nearby stall, said the flat’s windows and doors were usually closed, and she had not seen the woman recently.

She first noticed a faint odour the previous week but did not think much of it until it worsened. “The smell got stronger over the past few days, so someone must have called the police,” she said.

At about 8.30pm, the coroner arrived to remove the body from the flat.

In response to media queries, the Singapore Police Force confirmed that a 69-year-old woman was found dead and that investigations are ongoing.

Rising concerns over seniors living alone

The case adds to a growing list of similar incidents involving elderly individuals found dead alone in their homes, raising concerns about social isolation among seniors in Singapore.

On 12 June 2025, a man in his sixties was discovered dead in his Queenstown flat after several days.

On 31 May, an 81-year-old man was found deceased in his rental flat at Bukit Merah View, while on 1 May, according to Lianhe Zaobao another man in his seventies was found dead in his North Bridge Road unit.

In March, workers discovered skeletal remains of a 71-year-old man through a window at Sims Place while conducting maintenance work.

In December 2024, a couple aged 71 and 67 were found dead in their Jurong flat after neighbours noticed a foul smell. Authorities later determined both had died of natural causes.

Then-MP Shawn Huang said at the time that the pair were active members of a local Active Ageing Centre, emphasising the importance of stronger community engagement for seniors.

Calls for better tracking and outreach

Despite growing concern, data on solitary deaths among seniors remains limited. The Ministry of Health has said it does not track such cases, though the Health Sciences Authority manages fewer than 100 unclaimed bodies annually.

In August 2024, Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam told Parliament that police also do not maintain statistics on such deaths, though they refer isolated seniors encountered during patrols to social services.

Workers’ Party MP Dennis Tan questioned whether agencies could better share information to prevent similar cases, while MP Yip Hon Weng called for systematic monitoring and early intervention for seniors who avoid community outreach.

Minister of State for National Development Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim highlighted initiatives under the Ageing Action Plan — including the Live Well, Age Well programme and outreach by Silver Generation Ambassadors — but acknowledged that community vigilance remains vital.

Civil society groups have also begun tracking solitary deaths. The Online Citizen’s politicalsg wiki documents such incidents, aiming to raise awareness of elderly isolation in Singapore’s urban landscape.