Backing the Dales manifesto to change Britain for elderly

I AM writing in response to the articles by Bob Dales about making Britain a fit place of elderly people (Yorkshire Post, January 3).

I fall into this category myself, and have to say I consider the issues raised in the article extremely appropriate and obviously written by someone with deep understanding of the problems of elderly people.

I am personally very fortunate in that I have an independent grocer shop near me, who delivers weekly and have excellent fruit and vegetables and also cater for my immediate shopping needs. I would second Mr Dales’ mention of banking facilities, as where there is no close facility nearby this can become a problem and if banks could provide a home service this would be extremely useful in the provision of cash.

The other issue I feel strongly about is as Mr Dales says, few elderly people (including myself) have computers so there should be no application for information confined to that means of communication.

From: Freda Williams, School Lane, Walton, Wakefield.

IT is pointed out in the excellent manifesto by Mr Dales (Yorkshire Post, January 3) that when we become frail, we prefer to be cared for in our own homes. To this end Dementia UK campaigns for the necessary funding for the provision of Admiral Nurses.

Admiral Nurses help and support the patient and the family, as McMillan Nurses do for cancer patients. Yet many people have not heard of them. There are none in Wakefield.

From March 1-8, “Time For a Cuppa” will be held in several places, including volunteers’ homes, workplaces, community halls etc, to enjoy a cup of tea and cake for a donation towards this very worthy cause.

I am sure publicity would help.

From: Howard Perry, St James Place, Dringhouses, York.

YOUR article by Bob Dales (Yorkshire Post, January 3) was quite illuminating in the fact that he states that people of the older generation used to work 100 hours a week and then used to go on and undertake voluntary work.

I find this claim quite spurious but nevertheless it may have been the case due to the fact that in his day ‘the wife’ would have been able to be at home to look after the house and the children and ‘make sure his dinner was on the table’ whenever he managed to arrive at home. This is not the case in today’s society due to the Thatcher revolution. I do however, agree with his general theme, that more of the middle (aged) and rising generations should get involved in local and national politics but the question I ask him, and the general public, is how do we do that? Is there a party out there that shares the views of the average middle aged or older electorate?

I know nothing about the Round Table he refers to (apart from the name of the organisation), but when he writes that “we could have informed the Government years ago that the reason for the decline in the NHS was a failure of the managers to recruit, train and provide adequate numbers of nurses and medical/surgical staff”, he gives the impression that both he and the Round Table are full of good intentions but lacking in actions by not informing the Government.

He continues in his article to suggest that this country should stop donations to overseas countries. He and the Round Table will not find any politician, that has real stature, agreeing with him on that particular view.

It could be useful if Bob Dales and the Round Table were to get out there, talk to real people and understand the modern world as it is. I was an elected councillor for York City Council (1986-1994).