A BED-RIDDEN 94-year-old woman is believed to have died after her daughter and only carer had a seizure and died.

The bodies of Emily Kinsey and her daughter Prudence Kinsey – who lived alone in Littlemore – were only discovered by police officers when neighbours raised the alarm.

The pair were not using social services and friends told the Oxford Mail that Miss Kinsey, 68, had been determined to look after her mother herself.

It is understood that Mrs Kinsey died of natural causes some time after her daughter had a seizure and died.

Eileen White, who used to work for Prudence by helping out with shopping and had known the Kinseys for more than 10 years, said: “We were told the younger person died first and the older person died of a broken heart.

“I found them really nice people.

“Prudence cared for her mum for 10 years from the time I knew her. They were very, very close.

“Prudence’s last job was working at the chemist in Littlemore – but it has since changed hands. She had always had a job until she started to care for her mother.

“Prudence was quite funny and jokey with me and really pleasant. Looking after her mother, that was her main priority.

“Emily was bed-bound but, when I went in to see her, she was really chatty. She was a good sport.”

She added: “I think if you are left there and you’re elderly and you don’t know how long you will be there for and you have a special diet and you’re grieving, it just seems so cruel.”

A police spokesman said: “Thames Valley Police was called to a house in Bodley Road in Littlemore, Oxford, on July 26 by a resident concerned about the occupants.

“Officers forced their way into the property just after 5.30pm and the bodies of two women, aged 68 and 94 years old, were found in an upstairs room. The women were mother and daughter.

“The deaths are not being treated as suspicious and post-mortem examinations confirmed the women died from natural causes so an inquest is not required.”

Friends of the pair said Prudence cared for her mum despite her own poor health. Last night, a city charity urged carers to take respite opportunities to avoid damage to their own health.

Christine Burden MBE, of Sweet Memories Senior Citizens’ Club, said those looking after their loved ones needed support to prevent “carer burn out”.

“Respite is very important for the patient and the carer – even more so for the carer,” she said.

Mrs Burden, who has run the group at the Gladiator Club in Iffley Road for more than 10 years, said there were many carers in Oxfordshire who needed to seek help.

“They just don’t know where to turn,” she said.

“I know you try to do everything you can, I did it with my mother. I had her living here and I gave up my life and then there came a stage where I had to let her go to a home.”

She added: “You don’t know how people are silently suffering – but talking about it helps.”