Madam,

On Wednesday I spent three hours at the home of a very good friend, who had not slept for 12 days.

The reason why she had not slept is because she loves her father, who is 98, so much. She lives with him, in their home, not leaving the house on each of these days, even when she gets support from family and friends. She has to do everything for him, between visits from carers, twice a day.

She now cares for him in the same way as he cared for her, when she was a child.

The present system we have in social care is not working, it is not acceptable and must change.

Social services are not able to support her needs. Why? Do not blame Ceredigion County Council, they are unable to support so many aspects of social care, because they are not a statutory requirement. Money which should be made available by the Westminster government, devolved to the Welsh Assembly and the county council, is not available.

If it is not at the top of the agenda at the Welsh Assembly, it should be. They can and should address the crisis in social care throughout Wales. It should be a priority now.

To Theresa May and Carwyn Jones, are you aware that there are 40 empty bedrooms at Bodlondeb Residential care home? All of us in Ceredigion must stand together to make sure that Bodlondeb does not go the same way as the home in Llandysul, closed and still empty. How did this happen?

Bronglais Hospital, which is the hub of those in need of medical care, must have suitable accommodation to allow patients to recover from treatment.

Why isn’t Bodlondeb used for respite? Social services, Dyfed-Powys police, churches and chapels could between them arrange for one of the bedrooms at Bodlondeb to be made available. It is less than half a mile from the lady who has been sleeping out in the open all night during this adverse weather.

There is a kitchen facility, a shower or a bath and caring members of staff to support this lady in her hour of need.I hear from so many that there is nothing we can do in so many aspects of social care. We all know what we must do. It is love and compassion that will change the lives of so many.

Surely this can not be so difficult. All of us in Penparcau want Bodlondeb as it was.

Yours etc,

Dai Thomas, Llwyn yr Eos, Southgate, Aberystwyth.

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