Author Archives: john graham

“Stop Taking the Pills”

Posted on May 29, 2012 by john graham

Taking pills seems to become a daily task for older people.  If doctors won’t prescribe them, we will go out and buy them for ourselves. I have written a lot about the exploits of Pilly Galore whose experience and expectation of … Continue reading →

Posted in HEALTH | Tagged | 1 Comment

“Home Alone 3”

Posted on May 27, 2012 by john graham

This blog continues on the theme of elderly people being left at home in an “asset” that they are desperately hanging onto, but with insufficient income to live a good life, especially if they become frail and need support.  (See … Continue reading →

Posted in ELDERLY UK POLICY, RETIREMENT HOUSING | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

“Home Alone” 2

Posted on May 24, 2012 by john graham

The discussion about equity release is hotting up !  ( see earlier posts on this subject by clicking on equity release in the tag cloud ) A report by property agent Rightmove, based on a consumer survey, has indicated that … Continue reading →

Posted in ELDERLY UK POLICY, RETIREMENT HOUSING | Tagged , | 1 Comment

“Home Alone”

Posted on May 22, 2012 by john graham

This blog follows on from “Feel Good Inaction” (to see it click on previous post in the ARCHIVE, 20th May 2012), which was written in response to an open letter to the Prime Minister from 78 charities, calling for action … Continue reading →

Posted in ELDERLY UK POLICY, RETIREMENT HOUSING | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

“Feel Good Inaction”

Posted on May 20, 2012 by john graham

This blog is a follow on from “Conspiracy of Silence” (click on the ARCHIVE, 18th May 2012). Having remained silent for months on the deepening crisis in elderly care, there is a sudden outcry after the local elections have taken place.  … Continue reading →

Posted in ELDERLY UK POLICY | Tagged | 1 Comment

“Conspiracy of Silence”

Posted on May 17, 2012 by john graham

The older generation tend to be more conservative both with a small “c” and a capital “C”.  They also tend to turn out to vote more than the younger generation.  Unless they are too frail to do so. What so … Continue reading →

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A Cruel Deception.

Posted on May 15, 2012 by john graham

I wrote scathingly about the £140 state pension when it was first heralded as a great step forward by Ian Duncan Smith, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.  (Click on Pensions under Topics to see more, or find … Continue reading →

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Elusive Cherry Blossom

Posted on May 13, 2012 by john graham

This is the last of a series of posts which cover my visit to Japan in the spring of 2012.   For earlier posts click on “Japanese Odyssey” in the TAG CLOUD.  It ends with a  cartoon by Tom, who accompanied me on … Continue reading →

Posted in SMILES | Tagged | 1 Comment

“The Pill Go Round”

Posted on May 6, 2012 by john graham

A recent report by Professor Sarah Harper of the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, highlights the fact that we are too quick to use pills to solve our medical problems rather than making lifestyle changes. I have written about this … Continue reading →

Posted in N.H.S. | Tagged | 1 Comment

“Shinkansen Bullet Train”

Posted on May 1, 2012 by john graham

This is one of a series of blogs which describe my trip to Japan in April 2012.  To see earlier blogs in the series, click on “Japan Odyssey” in the Tag Cloud. Half-way through our holiday we travel from Tokyo … Continue reading →

Posted in SMILES | Tagged | 1 Comment