“I’d like some advice to see what help I can get. I’m 69 now. I’ve always worked and never claimed anything but I’m finding it really hard to manage now that I’ve retired. I live on my own now. My wife left me a couple of months ago. We hadn’t been getting on very well for several years and then when I was at home all the time we just got on each other’s nerves. Anyway, I found out that she’d been having an affair with the milkman for the last 20 years. It was a big shock but I think I’m better off on my own. At least, there’s no one to argue with. The neighbours are very good and my daughter comes to see me every Saturday.

I don’t know if you find the same but the cost of living has really gone up lately. I used to go to the market as it’s a lot cheaper than Sainsbury’s but since I had the fall last summer I can’t walk very far. We don’t have a very good bus service out here and anyway it’s a bit too far to walk to the bus stop now. My daughter bought me a walking stick so that I can get to the post office to collect my pension – but we’ll be losing our post office soon as it seems that it’s not making a profit so it’s going to close. I don’t know what I’ll do then because I can’t travel into central London and taxis are so expensive.

The doctor says I injured my back when I had the fall and he doesn’t think it’s going to get much better. I get a lot of arthritis especially in the winter. It’s better if I can keep warm but I can’t afford to have the heating on all the time. I enjoy gardening and I still manage to potter about but I can’t bend down because my back hurts and I get dizzy spells and the garden is getting a bit overgrown. My neighbour cuts the grass for me – but I’d really like to be able to grow my own vegetables – it saves a lot of money.

Another problem I’m having is that I can’t climb the stairs. It’s a real struggle to get up and down and I have to keep stopping. The bathroom and toilet are upstairs so it’s really difficult. I sleep downstairs in the chair most nights. My neighbour says I should see if Social Services can help but I don’t want to contact them. They might put me in a home. My mother was in an old folks’ home at the end and it was really depressing going to see her. I’m determined to stay in my own home. It’s all paid for now and I’ve lived here for 40 years. I just need some help so that I can get upstairs. If I had a downstairs toilet it would solve all my problems.

I don’t get much of a pension from the place I used to work at and now that the cost of living has gone up, I’m really struggling to pay the bills. Can they cut off your gas and electricity if you can’t pay? I’m a bit behind with the bills and I’ve had some nasty letters from the gas and electricity people. I hide them when my daughter comes. I don’t want her to be worried about my problems. I don’t believe in talking about private matters to the neighbours, so that’s why I thought I’d give you a call, to see if you can tell me if I can get any help.”