IT seems that whenever you read a newspaper, turn on the TV or go on YouTube there is the case of a vulnerable elderly person being duped or mistreated by care home staff.

The latest was the case of the Farnworth nursing home manager who stole thousands of pounds from residents to buy a car, a holiday and even pay for his mother’s funeral.

While this probably made us shake our heads and wonder what the world is coming to when elderly people can’t even trust their carers to be honest, what really upsets us is worrying footage of vicious staff physically assaulting the poor people left in their charge.

Hidden cameras mean that recording the care of our elderly relatives and friends sometimes reveals genuine cruelty. Often, this is not a one-off incident, either.

All this raises relevant questions for us all about putting those we love into a home, usually because we are unable to look after them and they need more specialised care. This is already an upsetting area all round as children often hate the idea of being unable to provide the kind of practical care and love their parents showed them when they need it themselves.

Usually left with little option, most people tour several establishments before choosing a home that seems to suit their parents’ needs, has high standards of care and which is accessible to them to visit.

The reality of this situation is that, contrary to how it might look if you only take the headlines into account, not all homes are run or staffed by selfish sadists.

Many of them offer a daily routine of professional care that is acceptable, and welcomed, by all concerned. This trend usually starts at the top and filters down to staff, with happy and satisfying relationships resulting.

This time of an older person’s life does not have to be sad or difficult; it can be rewarding and restful.

Proper research into available homes and trusting your own instincts can be a way forward when the difficult dilemma of parental care arises. And it will happen more and more as people live longer.

In the homes, proper training and an ethos of goodwill married to professionalism can create the right approach. While we need high expectations of this care, we also need to make a diligent, practical choice to give our loved ones a happier life.