BBC programmes on ageing

I agree FlicketyB, there are surely more 'old' people enjoying as full a life as possible, doing the things they have I think, earned the right to do, whether that is volunteering or following a hobby. We watched the programme and the only thing that really worried me was that if I (or my husband) were to become unable to care for ourselves, then our daughter would probably be involved in finding a care home for us, and that I know would be distressing for her, since she is very proud of her 'mum and dad'.

Yes, this occurred to me, but it shows how pervasive the negative media image of the elderly is that even when it is contradicted by personal experience young people still buy in to the negative image.

Would these young people have said the same thing if asked to describe their own grandparents? I don't think my adult GD would. Well - I hope not...

Earlier this week R4 asked a lot of young people what their picture of old people was. Almost without exception they said 'disabled, poor, lonely, demented' not one positive. I think these programmes are just underlying this stereotype. The majority of older people (over 60) are not disabled, lonely and demented and many are not poor.

Everyone I know has gone from work to a useful and active retirement seamlessly. They are now busy doing voluntary work, able to give more time to hobbies, study and family, all of which things they did before retirement but couldnt give enough time to.

I am not saying no older people have these problems and the older you get the more frequent disability and loneliness can become. But only one person in 10 ends up in care and I would like to see more recognition that most older people are perfectly normal ordinary members of society doing daily what most other people are doing, except going to work. The problem is this makes us boring to media types who are only interested in shock horror stories.

I agree - I just can't believe that I'll ever be like some of those old dears, although I know deep down that I may well do. I'd rather live in cloud-cuckoo land until then!

I gave it a miss. I know the facts and am glad that today I am not confronted with them. Who knows what tomorrow will bring? I'll cope with it then.

thanks glam

Just to add previous post was meant to say day care was 4star compared to mum's but the * * * * didn't print

nina I feel so so sorry for the carers the lady in the episode last night was worn out wasn't she and I am sure you must have been in the same situation you have my utmost respect.

I want to watch tonights. As we are in the process of finding a home for mum who has mixed dementia.

It's one thing to go a visit a place for an hour or so, but would like to see the goings on on a broader basis.

I will say the daycare centre on last nights programme was compared to where mum goes once a week.

glam sometimes it's almost impossible to get the person who needs care to agree to respite. Or even carers comming into the home. As I know from talking on another forum, and indeed from my own experience.

OGM my thoughts exactly vey strange that the lady got offered on the day of viewing,here housing offices would not offer a retirement flat just on the grounds of financial hardship you would have to meet the critieria first and supply references.
The family that Lesley Joseph stayed with could have had much more help with respite I think what they needed was more interaction with care workers to give that poor lady some free time to herself,but with cutbacks etc things must be very difficult to fund.

Me too.

Same here.

Me too Butter.

I deliberately avoided it.

I thought that, Oldgreymare. I was also sceptical about the £1,000 bingo win. Not sure £1,000 would pay for a mediterranean cruise in any case....Horribly depressing.

Out last night, tonight and Saturday but we do plan to watch it on iPlayer. Radio 4 have been soing something in collaboration with this which has made me really want to watch it.

Yes, distaffgran just what I thought. I think tonight's will be even more depressing!
I do wonder whether Gloria Hunniford's name carried more weight than the usual points system in finding a cheaper flat though.