A bailiff, estate agent and two locksmiths broke into the ground floor flat on Tuesday and found the remains.
Dorset Police said the body was believed to be that of a woman in her seventies. They are not treating the death as suspicious.
When questioned, a neighbor was horrified and wondered why nobody had noticed. He thought she'd moved out because the car wasn't there.
Another neighbor admitted she hadn't stopped shaking for two days. She felt guilty about not making some effort to contact her or report her absence.
"It's a shame this happens. It's quite common for older people to be living somewhere and for people not to see them.
"Bringing some kind of social interaction, however small, into their lives really makes a difference."
So many people live alone as they age. Mostly, their family lives far away. This is the case for me. My daughter lives in Australia, the other side of the globe from my home in England.
Even if parents live in the same country, they are often long distances away, which makes it difficult to ensure they are eating right and living well.
Now we're both in our 70s, I dread to think what will happen to me if my husband dies first. He is my carer. I don't walk well and I am always aware I could fall whenever I'm outside. I've mentioned many times that I take a daily walk with a firm grip on the handles of my rollator. I meet fellow walkers, and the constant challenge of struggling up the steep hill keeps me alert. I love to feel the wind on my face, birds chirping, and the swish of the trees.
In the end, society works by adhering to the message, 'Love they neighbor'.