What is it with the rash of elderly people that neglect to notice or inform authorities, that their sibling, with whom they reside is dead?

"An elderly Irishwoman shared a room with her sister's corpse for up to a year and sometimes slept with it in the same bed" ...(Feb 17, 2004)
http://news.excite.com/odd/article/id/385734|oddlyenough|02-17-2004::11:09|reuters.html

"A British retiree did not notice his brother had been dead for 18 months despite sharing a mobile home with him. " ...(Feb. 5, 2004)
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=4291158

May I point out one observation by highlighting the fact that the rest of the world thinks us Americans are nuts.

"I contimplate the final hours as they come to be -deathgirl.com"