There are many elderly people (veterans or otherwise) in this position in homes across the UK. There are plenty of schemes across the UK that people can join if they have a few spare hours to give. A quick google search found this one immediately… http://www.beafriendtoday.org.uk/about-us/

Whilst it is nice that so many people turned out to show their respects (something which sadly the veteran didn’t have the chance to appreciate) – it would be far more fitting if that mass of people put all that positive energy into helping others in a similar situation who are still with us. This is not meant as a criticism in any way of those people who made the effort to attend but rather a hope that something more lasting and positive could be achieved long term.

kind regards

Good points Trumper/ Wings43,
Being involved with elderly ill relatives,I’ve noticed that Care homes locally ,the staff are always very busy, very pleasant,but have no funds or time to organise lots of entertainment,etc. With 3 other retired friends, we go around local homes playing music for/ rolling out old songs for them,(no charge) and doing something like this definitely helps the whole system. So anything you guys can think up to do to help ease the situations for folks is always appreciated. We do bump into Ex-forces personnel from WW2 ,etc and always have a pleasant time, what struck me most though is that in these situations to elderly folks in care homes every day is a “Ground hog” day. ( That was said to me by a maintenance man at one home ) and I well understand that. We also found that in care home patients who seem to or do have dementia or similar, definitely,definitely pick up their attention spans at the end of our music sessions. One older lady at one place couldn’t communicate and when asked by one of us if she enjoyed that last request number, she winked at him. 😉 The Staff always enjoy anything you do as well, so its a win/win situation. Of course, nothing in life is easy, and 3 weeks ago our local care home was robbed in middle of night by low life filth that took the small amount of money raised last Xmas for entertainments for these residents.
I couldn’t make it to this chaps funeral, but I’m very pleased that other folks did. So see what you can do in your area to help older folks.

Bill T.