We have already railed against industry-driven manoeuvres to require us all to buy and use expensive and complicated electronic equipment to do the most basic and essential things day by day. Too clever by half (dementiapathfinders.org)
Now we read that the BBC has plans to stop broadcasting to steam radio and steam TV. We are threatened with the loss of ‘Auntie’, as we have known her: BBC preparing to go online-only over next decade, says director general | BBC | The Guardian
This is a direct denial of the needs and preferences of many older people, people of limited means and limited ability to cope with the complexity of Smart phones and other such devices. It is another push to require people to spend money on the purchase and maintenance of new devices.
The current cold spell is encouraging us to remember winters past – Huddled in one room with a coal fire or gas or electric equivalent, and with the company of the radio, local or national, and TV. This was the life of many older people we met in domiciliary practice in Chorlton, Withington, Wythenshawe and elsewhere. Progress has meant that central heating is available to many – safer and less likely to burn the front to your legs – but will we be able to afford heating more than one room?
The comfort and certainty of trusted BBC radio at the press of a button and the twirl of the dial was, and is the basis of daily routines that keep people in touch, entertained, and informed.
The radio is still much loved and used, especially by older people, especially those who are housebound or restricted by pathologies, including dementia: UK radio listening remains static at 89% of the population - RadioToday
We are similarly attached to our mainstream TV channels: BBC TV reach by channel in the UK 2015-2022 | Statista
For goodness sake, we must preserve these wonderful services, for the health and wellbeing of the nation – rather than to line the pockets of those who want nothing but the latest tech fashions
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