IN THE week that started with zombies and the great undead parading down Old Steine, and finished with White Night when deathly Halloween figures staggered through the city, there was another group who were similarly preoccupied with end-of-life issues, and who still are.

The Older People’s Council of Brighton and Hove has concerns about what will happen to our elders, especially in light of recent events.

What is happening in our city? Southern Cross went bankrupt and its care homes are being taken over, the Martlets day hospice has closed and the Alzheimers Friendship Café was under threat and unable to sustain one morning a week.

It seems of no concern to the vast majority right now – until they or their family get old, infirm and in need of some support. We will all need them in time.

Will any help or support be available in a few years’ time?

At this rate – no. History shows that once a service goes, it never comes back.

Are the closures just charities tightening their belts and expecting local councils to come to the rescue?

Should we expect councils to pick up the tab?

Residents pay towards council services and hold them accountable. They also pay to support charities, but seem to have less say over how that money is spent.

We hear of new admin blocks and managers on high salaries making cuts to the very services we donate towards.

Just as councils tell us where our money is spent, so should charities.

Don’t tell us by hiding it in a report, but in shop windows where we can see the proportion of non-core spending.

These charities already benefit from an army of volunteers. Have they ever asked the retired sector to volunteer for top jobs?

Before charities cut services affecting the people they are supposed to be helping, let’s see some evidence that they have also cut back on admin costs and high-salaried executives.

Mike Bojczuk, secretary, Brighton and Hove Older People’s Council