Today R4 Reith Lectures 2008 R4 I was gripped this week by a series of reports by Deddie Davies, a 70-year-old undercover reporter for the Today programme. Deddie stayed for five days in a care home for the elderly officially designated as 'adequate', and described, in her own precise, elegant words, what happened. Which was, mostly, nothing at all. The residents were just plonked in front of the TV all day. 'If I was told I had to live here for the rest of my life,' said Deddie, carefully, 'I know I would be cared for. But when you're sitting here for nine hours with nothing happening except for meals, I think it would be a slow death.' An elderly agent provocateur, Deddie rang for a carer at 12.40am. 'I said I was frightened, and she just said, "You're in a nursing home". No reassurance, no comforting and no conversation.'...
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