Sir - It was good to read Reg Little's article (May 18) highlighting the living options for elderly people - not 'the elderly', please - they are not a single group.

Old people's homes have never been the right answer except for those who need them for mental health reasons (I am not referring to nursing homes, which are there for a different purpose).

Extra care sheltered housing, where older people have their own front door, cooking facilities and bathroom, is much more suitable for those who, for physical ability reasons, need extra help in living. This has been the correct option for at least the last 30 years.

One major housing association did try to introduce this 'very sheltered housing' but the strict separation of funding between housing and social services made it impossible. Now is the time to have another try.

If the money spent on residential care was transferred to extra-care housing (Reg Little mentions the Isis Care Retirement Centre) this would be the answer for many elderly people.

Others may prefer to carry on living in their own house where they brought up their family, among loved belongings and in familiar surroundings, near friends and neighbours. Money should be made available to spend on carers for them too.

It is said that this year, the county council is only spending £300,000 on carers, whereas the money spent on placements in residential care runs into many millions.

A new study should be out shortly which looks back on Peter Townsend's famous report of 1962, called The Last Refuge. It was evident, even then, that old people's homes were not the answer.

Ann Spokes Symonds Oxford