Future not 'brighter'

I read with interest the letter from Alderman Ken Bullock (February 19) regarding the closure of care homes and respite centres by Staffordshire County Council and fully agree with his comments. It is a bitter blow for the elderly, disabled and their carers and for the future care of all vulnerable people.

With the closure of hospital wards, and cutting the number of hospital beds, these services will be needed more than ever.

In an ideal world it is understandable that people prefer to stay in their own homes surrounded by family and friends. But we do not live in an ideal world and there are many vulnerable people who do not have family living nearby and caring friends, and are in need of 24-hour supervision, respite care or need to go to day centres where they can meet people.

With the best will in the world, when ill people are looked after by a family member, there does come a time when the carer reaches breaking point and it is essential that they have time to relax for a few hours or weeks.

The suggestion that there will be a "sitting service" at home will not give the carer the complete break which they need and deserve, as many are elderly or in poor health themselves.

I, and many with whom I have discussed this subject with (for the most part senior citizens), find the county council's description of "a brighter future for the elderly" laughable. We cannot visualise a "brighter future" under these new proposals.

M Earnshaw, Dorchester Road, Cannock.