Time to build more caring communities

Life can appear to continue at a frantic pace. All too often we are so consumed by our own affairs that we fail to notice the travails of even those closest to us.

Today we report on the tragic case of a body lying undiscovered in a Dundee home for weeks. Of course, it is hard to know just how long ago the poor unfortunate individual had died, all we know for sure if that he was only discovered when police broke into the property following reports of a foul stench.

The sad discovery resulted in Dundee’s Lord Provost Ian Borthwick bemoaning the “breakdown of community”.

Certainly, albeit without the full knowledge of the circumstances, it would appear to represent a sad indictment of the times in which we live.

Mr Borthwick describes it as being “a far cry” from the days of his youth and spoke of the need for more cohesive communities.

That an individual could be quite so isolated is shocking indeed and it is to be hoped lessons can be learned.

A first step would not be overly dramatic. Rather it would just require each and every one of us to spend time thinking of those who live round about us for whom daily social interaction may not be the norm.

If everybody spends just a few moments caring for those closest to them – in both emotional and physical terms – a far better society can be created.