Yet again, the shocking plight of the elderly (in hundreds of thousands) has been highlighted front page in the Daily Mail of February 16, referring in detail to the five minute totally inadequate care visits that cause great distress and rejection, which is appalling and unacceptable in a civilised society.

Our own country needs a wake-up call now, not some time in the future!

Thousands of elderly people, possibly millions, continue to suffer daily from sheer neglect and total lack of communication from their so-called human brethren during the most fragile, and for so many, the most isolated phase of life’s ever challenging journey.

Time is of the essence. This dreadful situation needs to be faced openly. The ageing population is growing. They have a right (a human right) to respect, caring and consideration, as the frailty of the body begins to take its toll and the need for respect and the power of universal love can enrich the onset of eventide that awaits us all in the unpredictable pathway of life on Earth.

As is written, neighbours throughout our broken society are blessed with a golden opportunity to reach out to their fellow beings with kindness, compassion and the warmth of communication; for our once caring country should be in the vanguard of excellence towards its elderly population, not rated 16th in the European poll, such an assessment shames us all!

Now is the hour to enrich our country with the university of life and endow each and everyone with the pearls of wisdom, love and understanding to embrace the dire needs of our fellow beings from the cradle to the grave.

Mary Ratcliffe Old Town Swindon