Madam,

When Ellen ap Gwynn, leader of Ceredigion County Council, responded to Mavis Birch, who lives in Ponthrhydygroes, in last week’s letter (Council exploring all avenues to provide dementia nursing care), she did not respond to Mrs Birch’s dilemma regarding her husband.

Mrs Birch said: “If there is no care for him in Aberystwyth, I would have to get a bus (when there is one) to Aberystwyth, another bus to Cardigan and then three miles further on to find the home or perhaps a train to Welshpool or Shrewsbury and return!

"Elderly people having to make a journey of this length to see their loved one is not acceptable. We have spent our lives together and surely we have a right to see one another without journeys of 100 miles or more!”

My father-in-law found himself in need of 24-hour care. As anybody who finds themselves in this situation knows, families have no option but to send their relative to a safe environment.knows For us it was Allt-y-Mynydd near Llanybydder, years ago, 50 miles per visit.

Surely, if Mr Birch needs nursing care, he should be able to go to Bodlondeb in Penparcau or Bryntirion at Tregaron, so it is less than a 15-mile trip to visit her husband.

In response to Cllr Mark Strong’s comments in a letter to the Cambrian News regarding Bodlondeb, where he says: “The windows do not have trickle vents and are anyway in need of replacement, due to locks and metal fittings being broken.” Mr Strong, all 140 windows were replaced approximately seven years ago. Isn’t there a 25-year guarantee?

Yours etc,

D A Thomas, Llwyn-Yr-Eos, Southgate, Aberystwyth.

Have your say on the local issues affecting you - email [email protected] or join in the conversation on our Facebook page