Didn't any of the neighbors even think about calling on their elderly neighbors to make sure they were OK? Where were the volunteers at the hospitals and old age homes who could have given these people spounge baths or cooled them down with alcohol?
When the state takes care of everything, there is no reason for the individual to do anything. I recently read about a German man who was found in his apartment months after his death.
The article said it was becoming common in Germany because you have automated payments paying utilities, rent, etc. so no one calls to see why a payment's been missed and that with so many needs taken care of by the state, neighbors and relatives just don't check in on the elderly.
Sad commentary - and a warning...