For Elsie (Woman who rides bus to stay warm is tip of pensioner poverty iceberg, 3 May), insert my friend Mary, aged in her late 80s, living in a retirement flat without care provision. She is widowed. She struggles to manage financially and her mobility is very poor: walking is now difficult and using public transport is all but impossible.
She relies heavily on another friend for shopping and general help. A recent added problem is the closure of her local Lloyds bank – the nearest now being a lengthy bus journey away. She has no internet access, nor does she own a mobile phone. She is reliant on her bank, but parking in the area is difficult and Mary could not walk the distance, hence my involvement.
