THE Channel 4 programme Old gave some horrendous statistics about the elderly poor in Britain today.

Almost 2.5 million old people in the UK live below the poverty line.

More than 180,000 elderly people are physically abused in their homes every year.

Every 24 seconds one older person falls victim to crime. The decomposing bodies of 1,000 old people are found in their homes every month. More than 21,000 old people are living in hostels.

Capitalism is a harsh competitive system and reserves its most callous treatment for the impoverished elderly, an aspect of capitalism that young workers today would do well to consider when contemplating their futures.

J KEOHANE

Yeovil Close

Park North