I'm appalled at older people being dismissed as over the hill and dispensable

From: Brenda Batty, Heworth, York.
Older people are often more active than younger generations. Picture: PAOlder people are often more active than younger generations. Picture: PA
Older people are often more active than younger generations. Picture: PA

What a brilliant letter from Jan Shortt, the General Secretary of the National Pensioners Convention (The Yorkshire Post, May 14).

My husband and I are in our late 70s. We went into the pandemic mentally and physically well and we have every intention of coming out of it in the same way.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

We have always led a full and active life and will continue to do so. We have been out walking every day since day one of lockdown and we do our own shopping, thus leaving space on the home-delivery service for those who need it.

We have never flouted the rules on anti-social distancing (our name for it!).

Indeed, the few people we do see usually give us a wide berth, so no problem.

I am a member of the WI and various other organisations and my husband still rides a motorbike, which he has not done since lockdown and, like the golfers, he is desperate to get back to his hobby.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

As Ms Shortt points out, many older (please not “elderly”) people volunteer for many organisations which would probably fold without their support.

I am appalled that our section of society is being branded as over the hill, vulnerable and dispensable.

We are much fitter than many people a lot younger than we are. We do not want to become a burden on our families, nor on the NHS earlier than we need, so staying mentally and physically active is essential. We are still getting the “Stay at home message”. I think it needs to be “Stay alert and stay local”.

Some people are still confused about what they are supposed to do.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

People who do not have underlying health problems need not isolate, is my understanding of the situation.

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.

If you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country.

Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Editor

Related topics: