Letter: Care for elderly sums don't add up
YOU report (News, September 12) on the need for families to care for the elderly in the face of insufficient government funds. Ironically, many among this state "burden" will be thereby following official lifestyle advice, allied to direct state intervention such as the smoking ban.
Conversely, there appear to be no similar plans for domestic support for self-inflicted dysfunction like alcoholism and drug addiction. People in these categories not only can obtain disability benefit, but also qualify for carer's assistance. Families should also be the support source for teenage pregnant girls, who currently, at age 16, can apply for priority housing. The state should provide child benefit and nothing more.
Robert Dow, Tranent
STORIES in Scotland on Sunday on 12 September 2010:
1. Care for the elderly to cost 400m so not sustainable.
2. 8bn price tag on climate change laws including 3.9bn to enforce speed limits and build cycle paths.
Am I missing something here?
Frances Schofield, Edinburgh