Trite answers to the practical problems of the elderly are annoying. In the case of those who are alone, and I mean alone, and/or who don’t have the money to seek assistance, it must be hurtful, on top of the other difficulties being experienced.
I give you two examples.
Although I have reason to be grateful for things like CT and CAT scans, I am not enamoured by the electronic world in which I am forced to live. It may have something to do with the fact that I prefer crosswords to sudoku.
Service providers assume that we, the still-breathing, have access to family and friends who can help with the new tasks and language which banks and others force upon us. They have reduced their staff, relying on call centres manned by ill-informed personnel, who are limited in what they are allowed to do.
By the way, these organisations have contributed to the country’s unemployment. Don’t bother to ask to speak to a manager. These have been replaced by ‘team leaders’ who are usually unavailable. We are encouraged to update the device(s) we may have, or invest in the latest bells and whistles, at a cost which is simply not affordable.
It is particularly galling to realise that these bullying tactics are being perpetrated on a generation of citizens who have supported the same organisations for years. Retailers, especially supermarkets, do not consider the elderly, especially those living alone.
Their ‘special offers’ are generally aimed at families and those who have the space (refrigerated?) to store large quantities. In many cases, perishable items will go off before they can be used. And, talking of space, large packs of, say, corn flakes don’t fit into kitchen cupboards; just too big.
Another aside – the manufactures of, say, corn flakes pack the product in a plastic liner which, after settling of the contents, is only about 75% full. They then pack the sealed plastic bag in a cardboard box which is also only about 75% full, after all settling must have no further part in the deception. How about quarterly specials aimed at pensioners, comprising a mix of fruits or vegetables in small quantities, two apples, bananas and pears each, for example?
Other retailers are the clothing stores/supermarket clothing departments. In my opinion, they have all but destroyed the local textile industry with their sourcing of goods from Asian suppliers. More unemployment. The quality is questionable but, in particular, the sizing is a pain. What an adult customer buys as a medium very often will only fit a pre-teen. Socks that are accurately sized as to foot size are made with tops that are tourniquets; diabetics beware!
PAT MARSHALL
HAVE YOUR SAY
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