To feel annoyed by language

Which infantilises the very old?

There is, at the moment, a 'hearwarming' story of a former Lieutenant in the RN and Mayor of Brighton who decided to travel to Normandy to join the D Day commemoration.

The first comment I heard on the television was that he had 'escaped' and that he had been 'banned'. Subsequently the story was modified but still the patronising phrases continue.

'Jaunt across the channel' 'He's got a lot of charm with the ladies' 'exploits' 'old people behaving like naughty children' 'cheeky trip' and 'ah, bless'.

I find the condescending tone quite unpleasant. If he were 50 instead if 89 it would, if reported at all, be a one liner saying that a distinguished war veteran had attended the commemoration in Normandy.