That sounds awful Brodies Mum Maybe give Macmillans a miss then, you don't need any more hassle (though I've only heard good things about them )
My Dad's 76 and woe betide anyone who tries to talk down to/ignore him - he's sharper than most of the people he deals with, qualifications or not. He once had to point out to the consultant he was speaking to (who assured him he'd read his notes thoroughly) that he wasn't 74, nor was he a female and he was there to discuss his neck, not his arm - all of which was written inaccurately on his file