Look out for your older neighbours Hawkes Bay!

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

The discovery of the bodies of two elderly men in their homes weeks after they died has prompted Hawke's Bay police to encourage residents to keep an eye on their elderly neighbours.

Detective Mike Signal said the men had been found in their Napier homes in two separate incidents over the past two months. "It's hard to tell how long they had been dead for, but it's looking like 10 days to two weeks," Signal said.

If you have an older neighbour you may be able to play a key role in making their lives a little easier. In doing this, you could provide some valuable help where it is needed and you might also make a new friend.

· Ask - If your neighbour is an older person, there may be relatively simple tasks that they are no longer able to do. Don't be shy, approach them and ask if there's anything they need help with.

· Reading the signs - If you have not seen your neighbour for a while, pay particular attention to some simple signs. Do the lights come on at night? Do the curtains get drawn? Is the garden tended? If you have any reason to suspect that your neighbour might be in need of help, knock on the door to check they are okay.

· Follow up - If you are concerned for your neighbour's wellbeing, or suspect that they may not be able to look after themselves, ask them if they are okay. If you suspect that they need help but they are unresponsive to your offers then seek advice from Police or Age Concern.