AS A user of a Piper Lifeline/ Community alarm I was recently sent a Questionnaire asking for comments on the proposed raising of the weekly charge , by Angela Westwood, Head of Pembrokeshire Adult Care Until about a year ago the 3 monthly charge was £16.25, Without any notification this was raised to £17 55 every 3 months, now it is proposed to raise this to £28.34every 3 months Firstly it would be very interesting to learn the cost of this exercise!

Because of rising NHS costs, where possible elderly, infirm people are encouraged to remain in their own homes, receiving all nursing aids available to do this.

However it is only these people who must pay for the alarms to summon help from family, neighbours or friends, people in hospital or Homes naturally have help on the spot. It would seem that this facility is a burden to Pembrokeshire finances.

It is most likely that the people needing a life-line have contributed to Council tax over a very long period, I personally since 1950. Many elderly people have contributed more than most in PAYE Income Tax, due to having commenced their working life at the age of 14 years.

The money earned was desperately needed by families which would very easily come within the poverty band we hear so much about these days.

It is most probable that users of a Piper Life-line are living alone, experiencing the massive rise in House and Home Insurance, fuel costs, etc, etc.

I pay the same amount of these charges as working families. Any rise in the O A Pension is as nothing.

We are not automatically in receipt of Social Security payments, incidentally if I was I shouldn’t be required to pay the three monthly charges for a “Life Line”!

We are often reminded that there are too many old people thus overloading the NHS .

I would remind these complainers that most of the elderly played a vital part in WW2, those not old enough to enter the forces or do other vital war service, suffered bombing raids, food rationing, and sadly loss of relations and friends, these things are hard to be understood by people living an entirely different life-style.

One of the questions in the questionnaire was: “If the charge is increased would I still use it?” What a stupid uncaring question, I and other disabled people living alone have no option.

I wonder why the council cannot afford to give us this service free. Have they their priorities right?

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