OAP needs ignored

I WANTED to comment on the column by Phil Evans on OAPs (Star, May 15).

OAPs are not going to get respect in the community while the people who they vote into office in county and local councils ignore their needs.

The number of OAPs in Carmarthenshire who have dementia is among the highest in Wales and projected to become even higher in the next 10 years.

The dementia carers group in Burry Port which is self-funded was giving out information for carers at Morrisons store in Trostre recently and was shocked at the number of people who came up to them who were carers for someone and did not get any help and did not know how to get help.

The dementia group put on a workshop for carers recently.

We brought down a company from Leeds who do signage for toilets, etc., that people with dementia can recognise.

Finding a toilet is a big problem for people with dementia, as is finding their way out again, so we passed information that this display would be available at the Memorial Hall, Burry Port – not one person from the council turned up.

On the other hand, Professor Anthony Bayer from Cardiff University came down to talk to carers at no charge to the group.

Some of our members went to use the toilets at North Dock recently.

One was locked and the other one was in such a state that one of our volunteers, who used to be a nurse and could cope with the mess, went in and cleaned it for members to use.

OAPs have earned the respect of those who represent them.

Dorothy McDonald via email