I WORKED in a private care home for 17 years until it closed in March 2001.

Although we rarely had an empty bed, the home, with 12 residents, was no longer financially viable due to new regulations and the lack of money needed to implement them.

Although I am sure that everyone would agree that "there is no place like home," I am just as sure that all the residents we cared for accepted that they were much better off in a home where they had 24-hour care and support.

They felt secure knowing that there was always someone there if needed and they knew they were surrounded by people who cared for them and loved them. Relatives and friends knew they could relax knowing their loved ones were being well cared for.

While homecare is possibly ideal for some elderly people, it is not suitable for those living alone who depend on help with personal care and mobilising. Loneliness is also a terrible thing which, sadly, affects many elderly, housebound people.

Someone 'popping in' for half an hour or an hour -- three or four times a day -- is not enough.

Every week more care homes are being forced to close their doors, both council and private. When homecare is no longer suitable, where will all these sad, lonely and dependent people go when they need 24-hour care?

Elderly people living with relatives is not always an ideal solution and can cause a lot of stress and friction. There are also many with no relatives to depend on.

One elderly lady I looked after often said: "It's a tragedy is old age." She was right -- and it will be even worse when there is nowhere to go to be cared for 24 hours a day in a loving, happy, safe, homely environment.

Surely people's right to have a choice should be paramount. The elderly do not live to a ripe old age by choice. It is simply God's will.

LIZ HOWARD (Mrs), Abbey Terrace, Barrow, Clitheroe.