MAY I thank staff at Hollymount Nursing Home and Longfield MD Home for their valiant efforts attending work despite the adverse weather.

There have been so many incidents of them either walking to work or arranging to meet taxis part-way. They have brought extra clothes in case they were snowed in and had to stay the night.

We thank John, our handyman, for having the forethought to stock up with sand and grit, and for his constant efforts to keep the drives clear. Finally, we thank our local suppliers – Penny’s for meat, Smiths for fruit and veg and Mulrooneys for milk/eggs. We feel very proud to be associated with these people.

Unfortunately, one of the first letters in the New Year was from Blackburn with Darwen Council informing us that, as with other local authorities, they are facing a 10% reduction in income forcing them to find further efficiencies, and they will only maintain their 2010/11 payments to the elderly in care at the 2009/10 rates.

May I respectfully suggest they also look in-house to find further efficiencies such as no pay rises for council employees (what is good for the goose is good for the gander) and the withdrawal of jobs that are duplicated?

Also, as they are effectively expecting staff of care providers in the private sector to remain on the same level as last year, perhaps they will not be putting their housing rents up to enable them to manage their finances?

It is a ridiculous situation where more and more elderly people are being ‘looked after’ in their own homes, even people with dementia living alone, whether they would choose it or not, while Blackburn and Darwen Council find ‘efficiencies’.

Being ‘looked after’ more often than not involves responsibilities rather than the wishes and/or needs of the person receiving this limited care, We have a lot of elderly people in our area who have worked hard and paid their dues and they deserve to be treated better.

HEATHER LOMAS, Hollymount, Blackburn.