The elderly today

Sir, Your articles on ‘Caring for the Elderly’ (16 May) view the elderly as poor, lonely, rather decrepit people who need to be looked after by caring people and organisations. As your figures suggest that may be true of some.

But many elderly are still very active and often the core workers in churches and voluntary organisations. Others are still fit enough to join that active group, but may need guidance on how to do so.

No reference was made to one of the fastest growing organisations in the UK. In the University of the Third Age with over 300,000 members in 900 groups “the teachers learn and the learners teach”.

Interest groups in each U3A are led by members for members using their skills and cover almost every subject you can imagine. For the retired and semi-retired it is a good place to create friendships as well as learn.