AS A resident in sheltered housing, I decided to give the OK phone scheme a whirl to find out the way the system works.

I chose a time for me to press the OK button and now carry out this ritual seven days a week, just like the old days of clocking in for work. Twice I missed my 'call in' and was checked to find if I was OK.

The downside of the scheme means a manager is only available for mornings or afternoons with a six-month break from the same scheme. The manager no longer rings residents asking if they are ok and any problems, so no talk back either.

I feel that no thought at all was given to how much old people living alone felt that someone was caring about their welfare only to have that caring now depending on 'phone in' to a computer.

Mrs Spencer

 

Wotton-under-Edge