BMJ  2006;332 (20 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7551.0-f

Editor's choice

Not for wimps

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

What can we expect in old age, assuming we are lucky enough to make it that far? We may hope for physical and mental well being, independence, fun, dignity, and a peaceful death, but what are the prospects?

Based on current trends, it's hard to say. There will be more of us, with proportionately fewer younger people to finance our longer lives. The expansion of private provision in health care (p 1172) raises fears that the old and chronically ill will be increasingly poorly served. And yet recent reports and initiatives suggest that new targets are improving outcomes and changing attitudes.

Jacqueline Morris and colleagues give a cautious welcome to the latest report on the standards of health, treatment, and social care of older people in England (the National Service Framework (NSF)), but they think good care is still too patchy in the NHS (p 1166). . . . [Full text of this article]

Fiona Godlee, editor

(fgodlee@bmj.com)


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Articles

Improved food intake in frail older people
Anne C Milne, Alison Avenell, and Jan Potter
BMJ 2006 332: 1165-1166. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Decent health care for older people
Jacqueline Morris, David Beaumont, and David Oliver
BMJ 2006 332: 1166-1168. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Can GPs compete with big business?
Sophie Arie
BMJ 2006 332: 1172-1173. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Which patients with which needs are leading the patient-led NHS?
Diana M Jelley
BMJ 2006 332: 1221. [Extract] [Full Text]

Effect of family style mealtimes on quality of life, physical performance, and body weight of nursing home residents: cluster randomised controlled trial
Kristel A N D Nijs, Cees de Graaf, Frans J Kok, and Wija A van Staveren
BMJ 2006 332: 1180-1184. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Access jobs at BMJ Careers
Whats new online at Student BMJ