I WOULD like to congratulate you on your article in the Citizen, April 11, highlighting the plight of small, independent care homes for the elderly.

Because of increasing difficulties with dementure my mother was sent from the RLI into a care home more than 18 months ago.

I was allowed to choose and upon viewing I chose a small, independent home, Ferncross, on the Heysham Road.

I felt that this was a home for old people and not just an old people's home, and furthermore they have even let my mother keep her little dog with her, one of the very few pleasures in life she had left.

My trust has been more than justified over the months and I have seen my mother go from an unhappy and fearful person who was actually afraid of a fly, to a fitter, more relaxed and happier and actually contented most of the time, during her time there.

Where she stays is one of the homes that is under threat of closing as the funding they receive is more than £100 per week less per resident than the council run care homes, my mother has been forced to sell her house and she has nowhere to go, especially where she will receive such care and be as contented.

I know that many thousands can tell similar stories of these independent homes so please, I beg you, continue your campaign for equal and fair treatment for these homes.

During the budget many millions of pounds were targeted at the health services, if these homes are allowed to close, bed blocking will become even more of a problem than we have now and many of these funds will be wasted.

Let the Citizen lead a campaign to stop this nonsense and help give us a better health service and better care for our old folk, after all we will all be old one day.

M Willetts,

Chapel Walk

Warton,

Carnforth