Elderly deaths in Ankara, Turkey

Highlights • In our study, 1017 cases were living with family members or their spouses before death, 300 cases were living alone, while only seven were living in a nursing home before death. • A great number (642 cases) of presented elderly deaths were due to unnatural causes, followed by natural deaths as in 561 cases. However, the cause of death of remaining 121 cases could not be determined despite of detailed autopsies, histopathological and toxicological analyses. • Out of unnatural deaths, overwhelming majority (406 cases) were related to accidents, 152 were suicides, and remaining 84 were homicides. • More than half (86 cases) of all suicidal deaths were due to hanging. However, 43 cases preferred firearms, and ten used toxic agents as methods of suicide. • Out of all natural deaths, the overwhelming majority (464 cases) were due to cardiovascular system diseases, which followed by cerebrovascular system diseases in 36, and respiratory system diseases in 24 cases.