For the past four and a half years, I have been working in a care home with residents with dementia and Alzheimer's. Working with this cruel disease is not a suitable job for everyone. I have just read a wonderful letter from a 17-year-old student who,

For the past four and a half years, I have been working in a care home with residents with dementia and Alzheimer's.Working with this cruel disease is not a suitable job for everyone. I have just read a wonderful letter from a 17-year-old student who, for the past year, has had a part-time job in a respite centre for people with dementia and Alzheimer's. She points out she often goes home shattered and struggling not to cry at some situations you see. Well, I can only agree with that. My main reason for writing this letter is I feel there is very little assistance from the government. Many elderly people are forced to sell their homes. I feel we should be funding our own private insurance. Funding should be considered as far ahead as possible. It's no longer a short-term problem. With improved health care, people are in homes longer and costs quickly mount up. I understand there will be a government consultation due later this year.In the meantime, finances can be thrown into chaos. Average residential care home fees are estimated at �25,000 a year. It can be a huge struggle to meet the cost.To go back to funding for ourselves, if we were to start in our 20s it would be so little to find. How many people sit down and discuss how they would potentially pay for care in later years? Having no plan in place can be a financial disaster later on for parents and their families.Ron McCartney,20 Jocelyn Road, Budleigh Salterton.