Having entered the final quarter of one's life provides time for reflection. Over the past 22 years we have said goodbye to all four of our parents/grandparents. Each in turn had their need for care in their final days.

Now I'm not the world's most loving person, but as their offspring, we are there to honour their work in our lives, especially so at their end. They wiped our bums remember.

Sadly, one of the things I have noticed within our wider society is that elder abuse is widespread. A lot of my generation have simply lost all interest in their parents.

Many of them are now on their own through circumstances often beyond their control, and in some cases can be quite lonely.

Our elderly are living longer and enjoying themselves when and how they can, and good for them. They worked hard both for us and themselves.

But do we visit them as much as we could? Do we thank them as much as we should?

In my experience for every one that does (care) there is one (often more) who doesn't.

I've often thought that by and large, we boomers can be quite a selfish lot. Well, it is showing.

Elder abuse is way up, unfortunately.

G Martin, Brookfield (Abridged).