Family care homes could be revived to meet needs of the elderly better
Sir, – Further to Una Mullaly’s article and her reference to family care homes in Finland, a similar scheme operated successfully in Donegal for many years (“ Not everyone wants to be in a nursing home ”, Opinion, September 28th). It was called “Boarding Out” and commonly catered for single men/widowers who had limited care needs. There were about five houses around the county, having about four to five residents. The scheme fell into abeyance about 10 years ago, but should be revisited as it is particularly applicable to people living in rural isolation. – Yours, etc, PROF KEN MULPETER, Consultant in geriatric and internal medicine, Letterkenny University Hospital, Co Donegal.