"For the most part, the elderly are ignored"

My father who was elderly and dying of cancer was admitted to ward 24 supposedly to leave the following day. He ended up stuck there for 8 days for the most part being ignored by the nurses, as were several other elderly patients on the ward. They were sharing their rooms with several "junkies" suffering from withdrawal symptoms or going through detox who often got violent demanding constant supervision from nurses to the point where other patients were constantly overlooked. The violence and/or intimidating behavior clearly frightened the elderly and deprived them of much needed rest. One night many patients had to be locked in a room for their own safety whilst one of these addicts raged and was eventually pinned to the floor and restrained by security. My father and another elderly gentleman, both on special diets were given the wrong food for days until we complained, and was not allowed out of their beds to stretch their legs or go to the toilet instead encouraged to use bedpans and urinals. My father who was relatively happy and active prior to his admission suffered a rapid deterioration of his condition such that he could barely walk, was severely dehydrated, had lost a considerable amount of weight, and was intensely depressed by the time we eventually got him out 8 days later. His discharge was delayed due to oversight with discharge paperwork we were eventually told, and it turned out that 2 other elderly gentleman in his room had discharge delays due to similar errors causing them considerable anxiety too. Why are drug addicts even placed with these gentlemen? Why should addicts be given more care such that other patients suffer? Why are there (apparently) no specialist facilities and nurses at DRI for addicts so that they are not mixed with other patients threatening violence, intimidating and being aggressive around vulnerable elderly patients requiring delicate care, rest and recuperation? DRI used to be so much better but after this experience, I wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy.