Cold comfort

As a money-saving measure, Glasgow Housing Association will be “asking the pensioners in their sheltered housing to press a button every day to let carers know they are still alive” (your report, 16 January). Clearly, the inherent flaw in this arrangement is its reliance on the residents’ memory. I fear the most vulnerable residents are the ones who will forget to press the button and many false alarms are bound to result. Would it not be wiser to place a sensor somewhere in the flat which could detect movement? Better still, as the fridge is an appliance in regular daily use, why not place a sensor on the fridge door? If the door remained closed all day this would be a clear indication of something amiss and a follow-up visit could be arranged.

BILL DREW Cairn Road, Kirriemuir