While some find it unthinkable that their parents or grandparents could do such a thing, caseworkers say many — particularly from the World War II generation — refuse help, even from senior centers.

"They rely on themselves, they keep it in the family," Diviney said Monday.

Aging services is reaching out, trying to help elderly people dealing with mounting medical bills, prescription problems and other health issues. They're also trying to talk about domestic violence, which can be a factor in some elderly deaths.

In 2003, Salt Lake City police investigated the murder-suicide of an elderly couple in their 70s inside a senior housing complex. News accounts from the time indicated police believed domestic violence may have been a factor in the strangulation and hanging deaths of the man and woman.

Diviney said people who work in aging services are starting to talk more about the issue of elderly murder-suicides and to promote awareness that help is available.

"Some feel our community's turned its back on them. They lack insurance, medical resources," he said. "If they lack those resources, they feel like that's their only choice."

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com