My mums neighbour of 42 years (aged 93) was living in very poor conditions, her home was thread bear and stark, she looked unkempt and malnourished, she had two visits a day from ‘home helps’ who were having to bring in extra food in for (her family supposedly did all her shopping.) The home helps wanted to come at lunch times to make her a hot drink and something to eat, the family wouldn’t allow it they said "if she had a good breakfast, she didn’t need anything else till tea time.” All in all a pretty miserable existence. The situation came to a head when my mum (aged 81 herself) found the neighbour in a very confused state, at one in the morning, in the pouring rain sat in middle of her front garden. She was cold muddy and bedraggled (the crew reckoned she had been out side for some time before my mum heard her cries for help.) She is now living in a new, purpose built, local authority care home. I went to see her a couple of weeks ago, she looked fantastic, she was clean and well dressed, her hair was done, the big dark rings from under her eyes had vanished, her face fuller, she was cheerful and happy with her new situation. The home is beautiful, with each en suite room having French windows on to their own balcony, with views across the open country side, It’s more like Centre Parks than a care home, (I didn’t see many of residents out riding bikes or ponies round the grounds though :)) This lady is fortunate to be in such a place, shame not everyone is so lucky.