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It's all very well to criticise families who don't appear to care enough for their elderly relations. The requirement for mobility of labour means that adults work and live far from elderly parents. Some also struggle to care for their children and hold down two jobs, so women can't afford to be available any more, even if they had transport. 'Looking at other cultures' is hardly likely to provide a real solution to these particular UK problems.

It's normal to take in meals for older friends/relatives in hospital because we know nobody else will bother to feed them. But there's no access to a fridge or a microwave on wards, so how are we supposed to cope with 3 meals a day?

WRVS cafes and Meals on Wheels could both help, but what is the point of providing hospital food if patients can't even access it without visitors to help them?

Speaking from experience, I know I had to to wash, feed and change sheets for my elderly parents because they would otherwise have left in unacceptable conditions. Getting them home was a huge saving and time, travel and parking costs but the caring workload was easier. Hospitals make it very difficult for families to care & we never felt welcome.