SIR – As a carer myself, I read with particular interest a little-known study which confirms what many of us feel and indeed fear.

They selected two floors of a nursing home. One group was told the staff was there to help them – they were not permitted to make many choices for themselves. Despite the care, 71 per cent got worse in only three weeks.

On the other floor, where they were encouraged to make decisions for themselves, such as how to arrange furniture in their room, the residents actually improved. They were more active and happier. They were more mentally alert and more active in activities.

It was at the 18-month mark when it became really startling. Before this study, the overall death rate in that particular care facility was 25 per cent.

But in the 18 months after the experiment, the death rate among those given perceived freedom and choices dropped to only 15 per cent, leaving the control group floor (with few perceived choices) to rise to 30 per cent mortality.

That means being given freedom to make even simple choices – such as what TV channels to watch, whether or not to have and care for plants – effectively halved the death rate. No medical drug can come even close to this performance in the issue of longevity. Suffocating control is quite deadly.

Jane Collins, UKIP Yorkshire & North Lincolnshire, Main Road, Newport, New Brough, East Yorkshire