Gran starves to death at home

Brian Lashley

September 19, 2005

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STARVED: Ivy Allen.

A PENNILESS grandmother has starved to death in her Warrington home.

The body of 79-year-old Ivy Allen was found at the bungalow in Avery Close, Warrington, when housing officials called.

It is believed Ms Allen - who had 10 children and 30 grandchildren - had barely eaten or drunk in the last three months of her life. There was not a scrap of food in the house.

Warrington council had replaced the front door, which did not have a letterbox. That meant her pension book could not be delivered and was returned to the Department of Works and Pensions. But when workmen called to fit one, she would not let them in.

Ms Allen's body was discovered when housing officials called at the house to find out why her rent had not been paid. Ms Allen's family have criticised social services for not being alerted to her plight, and admitted their own failings.

Community

Pam Smith, head of service for social care for older people and people with a physical disability, said: "We first became aware of this lady in February this year and worked with and supported her until April of this year, at which time she told us she no longer needed our services; a situation her family were made fully aware of. At that time, we agreed with her that she could live independently in the community."

The Department for Works and Pensions has launched an investigation.

Ivy's daughter Sandra Murphy, 42, said "Mum was always independent and social services were meant to be keeping an eye on her. They weren't.

"If we'd known her benefits were cut and the visits had stopped we would have been round in a flash."

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Jo, Stockport (19/09/2005 at 15:11)

Pardon me? 10 children, and not 1 of them could be bothered checking on their poor mum - it must have been obvious she was wasting away for one reason or another! Social Services may have a (very small) part to play in this tragedy, but they don't have the resources to put 10 people to keep an eye on 1 person - like her family have!

Kaila Dacre, Salford (19/09/2005 at 15:12)

Independance issues aside, this woman was left to starve to death. She has been failed by her own family, who as next of kin have primary duty of care. I guess out of sight IS out of mind...

heather clough, milnrow rochdale (19/09/2005 at 15:25)

10 children 30 grandchildren, where were they all ,? most of us have an independent elderly relative in our family,did none of these 40 people think to ring ,write ,email, or call ,how shameful in this day and age .RIP Ivy x

Ms D, Manchester (19/09/2005 at 15:27)

Why, for heaven's sake must someone else always be to blame when things like this happen ? If there was no food in this poor lady's house for 3 months then that means none of her 10 children had been to visit yet they are quick enough and the first to point a finger of blame to Social Services for what has happened. I'm truly disgusted with her family.

julie, manchester (19/09/2005 at 15:34)

What i find difficult to understand is that out of the 10 children and thirty grandchildren she had is why did none of them appear to go and visit her in the last 3 months ??? . I know it says that the lady was a independent lady but come on we all like at some time for people to come and see us . I dont see how all the blame can be put onto the social services .

t murphy, canada (19/09/2005 at 15:45)

hear we go again put the blame on someone else all i can say is this family shoud be ashamed for letting this woman, mother, grandmother live and die like this. i bet you can sleep at night, i could not.

Anonamus, Manchester (19/09/2005 at 15:46)

It's disgusting that she died this way and that the only reason she was ound was because she hadnt paid her rent she has at least 40 relatives it doesnt take much effort for them to go and see her they should be ashamed of themselves!

bernie, trafford (19/09/2005 at 16:08)

Sandra and her family are an absolute disgrace 40 relatives and not a single one had the decency to visit they should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. Lets hope when they are older nobody can be bothered to give them the time of day. God Bless this old lady may she rest in peace.

Shel, Manchester (19/09/2005 at 16:30)

I could not imagine letting my Mum go hungry and worst of all not noticing! If the family did visit her, how could they not have noticed she did not have one scrap of food! I know that myself and my siblings are always rooting through my Mum's cupboards for tea, biscuits and other treats! Were they Blind?!?

SB, Oldham (19/09/2005 at 16:31)

How sad, that a woman who probably devoted her life to bringing up 10 children, didn't get any suppport from them.

Well the saying is what goes round, comes round. It's a vicious circle. If the grand children couldn't be bothered to visit their grandmother, I am sure when their parents become old, they won't bother to visit them either. So there will these ungrateful children of this woman won't be spared, the will get their share of sadness.

How awaful, that not even one child could go and visit their mother.

Well I hope this woman, if she had any sense left all her money and assets to charity.

I have an elderly mother who I love to bits. She is our world, for us kids and she is our life and soul. I neither my brothers and sisters would dream of putting her in a home or leaving her to rot.

We know that the best in our life now is our mother, and once she's gone, that's it, so we want to see her happy as long as she is alive.

Our mother looked after her mother-in-law and her mother in their old age.

We kids saw this, a good example to follow and now we are doing the same to our mother, even more so since our father passed away. We hope that one day our kids will follow the same example and look after us in our old age, and not put us in a residential home. Children follow by example, adults should lead good examples for their children to follow.

It is said, what you sow is what you reap.

The children of this women will in turn get their share of bad deeds from their children.

Andrea, Salford (19/09/2005 at 16:34)

It defies belief that a woman with forty close family members could starve to death - or that any of them have the nerve to point the finger at Social Services! Shame on you all.

suzi, stockport (19/09/2005 at 16:39)

Is this the county and communities we are living in today? Where an old woman can stare to death, without family, friends or the local community even noticing?

Switch off your moron box (TV) and take a moment to care about the people around you!

What type of country do we live in when people know more about fictional charaters on TV that their own family members and neighbours?

Mrs V Angry, Manchester (19/09/2005 at 16:56)

There is obviously a lot more to this story than meets the eye. I suggest that people should not condemn the family without knowing the full facts. Many elderly people can be extremely difficult to deal with and our client-based social services appear to have their hands tied when it comes to working with relatives.

brian coley, loughborough leic's (19/09/2005 at 17:10)

I felt sad and disgusted when i read about poor Ivy Allen,my wife and i have four children and never more than 24 hours pass without a visit or a call, we are both retired and l can get about fairly well.I feel that the family are 90% to blame 5% the post person and 5% the council.
(should never happen)
Brian Coley

Ex Pat, Malta (19/09/2005 at 18:11)

Government "NONentitites" and social services officials, (more nonentities), are only interested in saving the cash to get the cash, (not necessarily earning it). and covering their own backsides. Unfortunately this poor lady, who has probably paid taxes all her life for a decent lifestyle in her old age, will become just another statistic and as such, in time. forgotten.
Independence is an excuse resorted to by all government/council officials when something goes wrong in the system.
Social services has fouled up.
How many more times do we need to read about foul ups by these incompetent jobsworths before we realise that all that they are doing is cosying their own nests and at the same time squandering millions of hard earned taxpayers money?When are these jobsworths going to be accountable for the millions that they squander?
What social services, councils and government need to do is address the problems on their own doorstep and stop importing problems from further afield.
The old adage applies; "Sort your own house out first before taking anything else on."
This country is failing in caring for its' own people because it's trying to involve itself in other causes, probably lost causes, of which we have no influence.
Living abroad I see it all too regularly, we are seen as an easy touch.
Get real and address the problems at home instead of throwing money at corrupt and inefficient governments of which once the money has been given you have no control.

Steve Woods, South Manchester (19/09/2005 at 18:13)

I can not believe this story, this lady had 10 children and 30 grandchildren and died of starvation. I begin to wonder how the family can blame social services at all when they have failed her to such a degree. They should be ashamed of themselves, as their attitude and actions disgust me.
Families themselves are our first lines of social service, and they have a duty to look after the elder members of their families that are living alone.

martine, salford (19/09/2005 at 18:42)

How could this poor lady die in this way, with 10 children and 30 grandchildren? Did they never visit her to see if she was ok? No-one else is to blame but the family! that is if you could call them family!! I hope they can sleep at night.

Simon, east kilbride (19/09/2005 at 19:33)

This is perhaps the most shocking story that I have heard in my life. Ivy's family should be utterly ashamed of themselves. They clearly abandoned her when she needed them most. And, to blame social services simply beggars belief.

Alison, Leigh,Greater Manchester (19/09/2005 at 20:47)

I hope her daughter,Sandra Murphy can live with this,or any other family member for that matter.Did no other family member ever think of popping in to see this old lady.

This is 2005,and should not be happening.

Sue, Salford (19/09/2005 at 21:39)

It's absolutely unbelieveable that 40 members of her own family (10 children and 30 grandchildren) couldn't even be bothered to lift the telephone to find out how Mum/Gran was doing that day, never mind go and visit her. Bet they won't be so slow when it comes to finding a solicitor to launch a lawsuit against the County Council!

Although the Council needs to accept some small blame in this woman's death, the vast majority of blame should rest solely on the shoulders of her family - and no-one else.

Perhaps the CPS could look at bringing charges of "elder neglect"?

Julie Jackson-Hepworth, South Plains (20/09/2005 at 05:26)

Well, so much for "having children to see to you in your old age."

I feel for the poor woman; she was obviously suffering from dementia. And not one of her many offspring bothered to see to her.

Honoring your mother is not the state's job.

Dean, Elliot, Iowa USA (20/09/2005 at 06:51)

You brits tend to think of Americans as barbaric, but I'll tell you one thing. My wife's mother is 84 years old and someone talks on the phone to her every other day and one of her 7 children and dozen grandchildren visit her at least once a week so that she's not cooped up in a house staring at the four walls waiting to die.

I find it very telling that a 42 year old daughter believes that it's the business of the State to make sure that mum is doing ok.

Three months?????? I haven't heard anything more ridiculous and disgusting since the French allowed 15,000 Grandma's and Grandpas die because the State was supposed to be caring for them.

THE STATE DOESN'T CARE!!!

In theory, the family does, though apparently not in this case.

Poor woman, starving and alone for 3 whole months. 90 days with nobody to keep her company.

Barbaric indeed.

Nikky, Glasgow (20/09/2005 at 08:22)

There was 40 of them, how they didn't visit within 3 months is beyond belief. For to say the SS was looking after her and they probably didn't isn't good enough her own family should have made sure they had and visited her. I couldn't sleep if this was my gran. Totally disgusted i hope this stays with them every day of their waking lives.

julie, midlands (20/09/2005 at 08:26)

how disgusting that social services are being blamed for this poor ladys death when clearly the fault is with one of her '10 caring'children or grandchildren,lets hope they can live with themselves as they have badly let this lady down,I bet they will be fighting for her back pension though or sorting through her belongings.......its sickening they are trying to blame others they need to look long and hard at themselves!

Julie, Sydney (20/09/2005 at 08:47)

This family should take some responsibility. Why does it take an emergency for one of ten children to 'be around there in a flash'. For months your mother starved. Not one visit, not one phone call in all that time. Get a grip. This is your responsibility, fair and square. How dare any family member blame a government department for their own disinterest.

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