Care of our elderly people must get priority

Our final days should be among the most precious, a time when we are comforted and reassured by those around us, when we can sift through our memories and take stock while still remaining as active as possible.

We should be protected from any type of abuse, whether wilful or by neglect. At the very least we should be able to expect minimum standards in our care.

Official figures show that within a few years there will be a 7% increase in the number of people aged over 65 and a significantly greater increase in the numbers over 75.