Front of todays Herald (national edition at least)

L1011

Anyone else get memories of the 1980s, ALONE-run exposes on the conditions old people were in that the Sunday World used to carry with this? Somewhat hard to believe that our apparently rich, modern country would allow this...

(for reference, its the picture of an effectively ruined house that a blind 70 year old was living in until the council eventually deemed it unfit for human habitation)

Heyes

I caught a glimps of this earlier, i couldnt believe what this women was living in. If she has family it is a disgrace that she has had to put up with this. I havent had a chance to read the article as of yet, but do you know what will happen for the elderly lady, will they provide her with housing or ?

partholon

didnt see it but i wouldnt be surprised. the state doesnt give a feck about anyone under 18 or over 65. once your not making em tax money your considered discardable and they only do something when a situation is so grotesque their shamed into it. take the stamp duty level. if memory serves the only reason its over 317k is because it came to light that the tax man was pursueing a 80-90 year old woman whos sister died and left the house they were living in to her in the will. she was dirt poor and when they got the house it was in the middle of nowhere. when the sister died it was in foxrock and got stuck with a bill in excess of 100k. it was only when if made the front page that something was done about it.

heres hoping the woman gets the help she needs.

Judt

When you're rich it's easier to forget about the poor, or at least just pay them lip service and move along. It's a mark of a wealthy society - some always get left behind, and we look in horror at the gap when it comes to light. But hey, there's an election coming up, maybe she'll get her picture taken with some blood sucking vampire who'll incidentally make sure she gets good accommodation if his staff are smart enough to write down her name.

luckat

partholon wrote:

didnt see it but i wouldnt be surprised. the state doesnt give a feck about anyone under 18 or over 65.

You're so right, Partholon - I was just talking to a friend who's going for a breast check. The examination is free to women over 50 - but once you're over 60 (or maybe it's 65, not sure) you have to pay, and it costs hundreds.

Wishbone Ash

I used to think that house was derelict as I've never seen anyone there!

In fairness, the woman may have been a bit of a recluse/loner etc. and may have turned away any help up to now.

Re: Family. I don't think she had any close family.