Both my grandmother's were residents of nursing homes in which they passed away. As well, my mother-in-law has just recently passed away earlier this year (2005).

Whilst I appreciated the fact that they were looked after, there are many subjects that concerned me:

• All 3 of these ladies lost personal belongings, which were quite valuable;
• One grandmother was siting outside one day and a visitor walked past and threw his cigarette, which landed on the back of my grandmother's neck;
• My mother-in-law was a resident of a nursing home in Sydney, and they were the most awful people, just listening to the nurses talk to her when they took the phone to her was upsetting.

Luckily we managed to get her into a much nicer nursing home, but my main concern is the waiting lists.

Here in Tamworth, it is outrageous, there are not enough beds for both men and women, and you have only 24 hours to fill the bed when there is a vacancy.

Anonymous: Name and details supplied [May 2005]