It is interesting to note that England’s chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, talks about quality of life (Prioritise quality of life over prolonging it for elderly, Chris Whitty tells medics, 10 November) in the same week that Simon Jenkins says that he has been forced to turn off the news because he finds it too shocking. It is easy to forget that quality of life is determined as much by mental attitude as it is by physical, medical and financial circumstances. I am 77, and I join with Simon in a strong desire to protect my mental health.
Whitty urges families not to shy away from conversations with older relatives. We also need conversations with the youngest in society about the importance of lifestyle factors such as exercise, diet and the harmful effects of cigarettes, drugs and alcohol. The bad habits do not start in old age.
