THE reports of horrific attacks on elderly people which seem to appear with distressing regularity are a disgrace to a civilised society.

To be attacked in your own home

for just a few shillings (often by young people, sad to say) is not only a

physical attack, often leaving dreadful bruises and broken bones. It is also

an attack on the freedom of the victims, who are often so traumatised they can no longer face the challenge of living alone.

Some have no close family who could shelter them temporarily while they regain their nerve.

Others have families who would help if they could but because of work commitments are not able to give as much support as they would wish.

Very often these men and women, who have lived through war and hardship in their youth, feel they can no longer live alone.

At a stroke their lives have been altered and in many cases it means that their liberty has also been affected.

When you live in your own little castle you can do as you please when you please.

When you live in a home or wardened flats, or simply rejoin your family, there are others to be considered and you march to a different drumbeat.

I wonder if the perpetrators of such acts ever think about the results of their wrongdoings?

There are many young people who do a lot of really worthwhile things - I know that from first-hand experience with The Prince's Trust - but sadly there are also those who live only for themselves and are part of the "gimme gimme" society.

The right to walk openly and unafraid on our streets is also threatened by some of the aggressive begging which still goes on in spite of the efforts made by Brighton and Hove Council to put a stop to it.

A friend of mine who is a very confident person told me that recently she needed to use a cash machine in the evening.

She went to her bank, only to find two menacing figures tucked up against the wall where the lobby door was.

It was quite clear that she was

going to draw some money out of the

hole in the wall, and although the

automatic door protected her while

she actually made the transaction

she then had to walk out past the two bodies.

Nothing happened but she felt very vulnerable.

If she felt uncomfortable how must the less able feel?

With fewer and fewer bank branches it is getting harder and harder for the elderly and the infirm to go about their business of paying bills and drawing cash.

I know there are alternatives available, but many older folk find such things as cash machines and mechanical deposits confusing.

No wonder they often have sums

of money in their homes in spite of all the advice they are given by Help the Aged and Age Concern.

Sadly, "help the aged" often means "help yourself to what the aged have" these days.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.