Alternative ways to look after the elderly

SIR – You report (July 6) that a “quarter of care homes are unsafe”.

Care for the elderly will never be good enough in Britain while the funding system is treated as a political football. There also needs to be a fundamental change in our culture, with responsibility accepted by families, rather than a wholesale reliance on the state.

The default position should be that the elderly remain in their homes – where most want to be – with support from their families, doctors and care professionals. The tax system should help isolated elderly people move closer to family.

If a care home is necessary, family members must be encouraged to visit every day and become involved with their relative’s care. Schools should also organise visits by pupils to elderly people, whether in care or in their own homes, to provide company and learn from them.

Many cultures treat their elderly with the utmost respect. We should learn from them.

Tim Coles

Carlton, Bedfordshire

SIR – As it seems clear that a consistent high standard of affordable care for the elderly cannot be assured, is it not time we started thinking about a more sustainable solution?

One such approach might be for those who are economically inactive to be trained to provide an agreed number of hours per week of friendship and care for elderly people living near them. Training and oversight could be given by churches, which are at the heart of every community. There could be financial incentives, provided via tax relief or extra welfare or pension payments.

This “citizen service” would bring personal satisfaction to both the participants and the recipients.

Mike Tyler

Worthing, West Sussex