Families don’t do enough for elderly relatives

SIR – The discharge of elderly patients from hospital without adequate care (report, May 11) surely highlights the need for families to do more. Frail elderly people need help with washing, shopping and cooking, at the very least.

At one time, families would have made plans for relatives leaving hospital. Even if family members don’t live nearby, elderly people could move closer to relatives while they are still fit enough to do so.

There is no doubt that informal care makes all the difference in successful discharge from hospital. Barbara J L Cooke Ipswich, Suffolk SIR – Technology is available that would allow health and social care professionals to share information.

The doctor or nurse responsible for a patient’s discharge from hospital could quickly and easily share a care plan with those responsible for the patient’s care in the community, or with the family and friends of the patient.

It is time such technology was adopted across the health and social care system. Paul Barry Chief Executive, everyLIFE Technologies Farnham, Surrey SIR – The news that four in 10 clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) do not have an end-of-life care strategy (report, May 9) is extremely alarming.

End-of-life care should be about patient choice, and tailored plans should be put in place. For example, many people, particularly those with dementia, find it comforting to remain in their homes. Agreeing an approach to areas such as pain relief is difficult and conversations need to be had with patients and families at an early stage.

Palliative care delivery is usually complicated by the involvement of several organisations. It should therefore be contingent upon CCGs to assign responsibility to a designated employee to specialise in this area. Nav Dhar Franchise Manager, Home Care Preferred London N21