Madam,

As secretary of the North Ceredigion Forum For Elderly Care, one of the most harrowing stories related to me and of great concern is of the parting of elderly and mostly infirm married couples when domiciliary care is no longer an option through residential care needs of one of the spouses.

When I was married so many years ago the wedding vows concluded with ‘in sickness and in health until death us do part’ which was my experience 20 years ago when, at such a sad time, I was fortunately able to care for my terminally-ill husband at home until the end of his days.

Now one of the saddest outcomes of the non-provision and closure of residential care homes with no replacement of local accommodation for those past domiciliary care is that our most vulnerable elderly couples are being parted not by death as vowed in their marriage ceremony but by there being no available residential care within visiting distance – often right out of the county too many miles away for infirm spouses to visit their loved ones.

In these cases this is their saying ‘goodbye’ and parting not by death but by local authority closure and non-replacement of much-needed suitable local residential care close to home.

I now write to say shame on the councillors that make such closure decisions so often resulting in marriage vows becoming meaningless with an unnecessary lifetime goodbye.

Yours etc,

Patricia Bates, Secretary, North Ceredigion Forum for Elderly Care. Maes-Maelor, Penparcau, Aberystwyth.

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