— Sudden Death Among People Living Alone in New Zealand: Reality and Response
Recently, a mobile application called “Are You Dead?” has gone viral in China. Several friends forwarded related articles to me—perhaps because they know I have spent many years working in the death-care industry.
Developed by a group of post-95 founders, the app responds directly to the rapidly growing number of people living alone and the hidden risk that a medical emergency or accident may go unnoticed. Its deliberately blunt—even unsettling—name confronts the fear of dying alone head-on, striking a nerve with many who quietly worry about being forgotten.
The app’s core mechanism is straightforward:
users are required to confirm their safety by clicking “I’m still alive” within a preset time frame (for example, once per day). If the check-in is missed, the system automatically notifies or calls a designated emergency contact, helping ensure that serious incidents are not left undiscovered.
Over more than twenty years of funeral service work in Auckland, we have encountered cases of sudden death among people living alone almost every year.
These individuals include elderly parents whose children live overseas, middle-aged people who have gradually become socially isolated, and—most heartbreaking of all—young international students in the prime of their lives.
The causes of death vary:
sudden cardiac arrest or stroke, severe falls with no one nearby to help, as well as cases involving suicide or homicide.
Each case represents a life that ended quietly, often without anyone realizing something was wrong.
In New Zealand, such situations are typically handled by the Police and the Coroner, who work to confirm identity, determine the cause of death, and locate any next of kin.
If no relatives can be found and the deceased has no estate to cover funeral expenses, Auckland Council may work with funeral providers under the Indigent Funerals programme, using public funds to ensure a basic but dignified burial.
If you—or someone you know—are living alone in New Zealand and feel concerned about personal safety, the following steps may help:
1️⃣ Build an emergency contact network
Maintain regular check-ins with trusted individuals via platforms such as WeChat, WhatsApp, Facebook, or other messaging apps.
2️⃣ Leave important contact information in multiple places
Clearly list emergency contacts on your phone, computer, or in visible notebooks, so others can access them quickly if needed.
3️⃣ Maintain stable social connections
Regular social interaction and avoiding prolonged isolation are among the most fundamental forms of self-protection.
Ultimately, we hope for more genuine and compassionate care between friends and family—replacing the unsettling question “Are you dead?” with a simple, heartfelt “Are you okay?”
May everyone live a life in which they are remembered, connected, and cared for.
