From Miss Primrose Peacock,
Sir, - I have recently investigated options for the time when I
have to move. I have visited several care homes, Church-run and
secular. Most of them offer unwanted "activities" built into the
charges.
While I agree almost wholeheartedly with the articles by Huw
Spanner (Features, 27 June) and
Paul Donovan (Comment,
same issue), there is one aspect of elderly life which appears
to be ignored. It is the assumption that all elderly people have
banal interests such as bingo, sing-songs, or being taken to feed
the ducks.
One local care home offers holy communion (Methodist) or bingo
with fish and chips on Fridays. Privately owned establishments may
focus on golf, bridge, bowls, or jacuzzi - at a price.
None of them recognises that there also elderly people whose
interests are intellectual, academic, or a specialist subject such
as philately or horticulture. Others may like to discuss
non-fiction books, classical music, or Radio 4. There is a tendency
to patronise elderly people who are not mentally impaired.
Several people have told me that home visits by prior
appointment from someone with compatible interests, or a reciprocal
invitation to coffee or tea in daylight, would be welcomed.
I am not too surprised that there was no response to my letter
(23 May)
regarding a suggestion for cash-strapped retreat houses to offer
quiet gatherings with a cup of tea.
PRIMROSE PEACOCK
4 Crescent Rise
Truro
Cornwall
TR1 3ER