What 'care' in the community?

What a brilliant idea. A sick person comes out of hospital, giving up their bed so that someone else could have it. They are looked after in a safe environment by a caring person. There is someone to provide their every need, wash, dress (if needed), feed, give medication, and help them back to as full a recovery as is possible.

The Government will give you money for all you are doing and help you, the carer, in every way.

What a load of tripe and codswallop!

I help look after my sister-in-law, who had a stroke in early July. She couldn't speak and lost the use of her right-hand/arm.

Walking more than three or four yards was slow and painful. Going upstairs was also painful and nigh impossible, but, with help, she made it for a few days.

We then had to bring her permanently downstairs. Having no toilet facilities downstairs, we bought a chemical toilet and made a facility underneath the stairs - right opposite the kitchen, where we prepare our food and where my sister-in-law must wash after using the toilet (hygiene rule broken).

We applied to the council for a bungalow, and that is like getting manure from a rocking-horse. We also applied for carer's and attendance allowances - part of the Government's care package.

We received a letter from the Pensions Service which pays the carers/attendance allowance, saying yes we could receive an allowance of some £43 on January 12, 2004. But - and this is the bugbear - because we are pensioners, (I am 71, my wife is 70 and my sister-in-law is 75), and my wife and I are on income support, they cannot pay us anything.

If we were, say, on a wage of £200 to £300 per week, we could receive the money due to us as carers.

What sort of "care in the community" is this? Penalised because you get too much of a state pension!

All that has been given to us is one stair rail and a shower seat. Is this "care in the community" or "out of sight and out of mind"?

There must be others in the same situation. What a way to be treated. It is no wonder people leave their loved-ones "blocking" hospital beds.

If we were to put my sister-in-law in a nursing home, it would cost between £500 and £700 per week and yet no-one can afford £43 per week for us. How sick can you get?

-A disillusioned carer, name and address withheld.