An elderly disabled woman is believed to have died in her Northern Beaches home after her husband and carer died first, leaving her unable to support herself or get help.
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Police have called on locals to put down their phones and strike up conversations with their neighbours after the elderly couple were found dead in their Palm Beach home on Tuesday morning.
Officers found the bodies of the "fiercely independent" pair, both in their eighties, in their Bynya Road property after concerns were raised for their welfare, a police spokeswoman said. It is not known how long ago the couple died.
A crime scene was established and forensic officers combed the site however the deaths are not believed to be suspicious.
It is understood the man was the sole carer for his wife, who was blind and disabled, and that he passed away naturally first, leaving his partner with no means of support, resulting in her death. The couple's children are believed to live overseas.
Police said the pair had refused aged care assistance and medical support in the past.
Officers from the Northern Beaches Local Area Command took the opportunity to encourage neighbours to make more time for one another on Facebook.
"Whilst we believe there are no suspicious circumstances this is an opportunity to reflect on this tragedy and think about our elderly parents and neighbours and what we can do as a community and as individuals to prevent a recurrence of this terrible event," the post read.
"Time to put down those iPhones and iPads, and hold back the selfies ... and have a real conversation with your elderly neighbour who is living a simple life devoid of all electronic gadgets that contribute little to real community cohesion."
The cause of the deaths will be formally determined following post-mortem examinations.