Published: Wednesday, 19th March, 2008 12:30
YOU HAVE BROKEN YOUR TRUST WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US
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NAC betrayal on wardens is more than just a breach of faith for OAPs
HAVING written about the plight of hundreds of our most vulnerable elderly people for the past few weeks I actually thought that my initial incredulity at the decision might have mellowed a bit.
But this week, having spoken to so many residents - in particular 87-year-old Lewis Belshaw - I can only imagine that my own anger must be multiplied 100-fold amongst the people affected.
I sat down and spoke to Lewis for the best part of three hours and he was everything that the council it would appears are not - eloquent, passionate and intelligent.
A veteran of the Normandy beaches and a life-long Labour supporter (like the majority of the residents), he has been betrayed.
He spoke to me openly about his fear that, amongst other things, loneliness will be the end of him rather than illness or other ailments.
But of course, things like the psychological effects of loneliness don’t show up on the council’s statistical radar.
I was happy to spend time talking to Lewis, who has a lifetime of wisdom, stories and good humour. Yet he is, with some justification, of the opinion that the authorities see him and others like him as a liability.
That is an absolute disgrace!
Down the centuries the wisdom of our elders has been prized. But not so now it appears.
And when it is not neds lacking respect but the power-that-be, then you know something is very, very wrong.
Some on the council would have you believe that the likes of our paper are proliferating mis-information along the way.
But if you are going to tear apart our elderly’s lives then it is up to you, North Ayrshire Council, to justify yourselves to us, the people, your masters.
And in that you have been utter, abject FAILURES.
We will all be old one day. And in breaking your contract of trust with our elderly today you have broken your trust with every single one of us.
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