The Minister for Health and Children and his predecessors have had to address a number of crises regarding the care of the elderly and doubtless his successor will face similar ones. If properly funded, the carer's allowance and benefit schemes could achieve great results in this area. The solution to the problem is not to confine the elderly to nursing homes. We should attempt to provide a structure where the greatest possible number can be looked after in their home with the help of their family or immediate neighbours. The carer's allowance and benefit schemes can play a major role in this.