Sir, - I refer to Mary McGoldrick's recent letter and to subsequent correspondence on the subject.I was forced to give up my business as a consultant to look after my wife, who suffers from Alzheimer's Disease. Living on a pension from a previous employment, I looked after my wife almost completely on my own for three years. I was refused any kind of nursing or domestic help from the Eastern Health Board. I was also refused a medical card for my wife although our joint medical expenses, including the cost of napkins etc., sometimes came to over £600 a month. I might add that no refund whatsoever is made in respect of appliances used for incontinence.I do not believe that anyone who has not been a carer can appreciate the feeling of total isolation which often accompanies the job. It's a feeling that can often be made worse when one comes into contact with bumptious civil servants and the inefficiency and insensitivity of some State departments.My wife's condition deteriorated rapidly and she is now in a nursing home. However, my financial problems are only beginning because nursing home costs are huge - £300 to £500 a week on average in the greater Dublin area. The health board subvention, I might add, has not been increased since 1994.While I was a carer, I experienced some of the most difficult times of my life. But it was also a great learning experience. In my case, I learned how to cook and undertake several household tasks which I had never done before. Most important of all, I learned how to love unconditionally, accepting that an Alzheimer's patient will try your patience at least a thousand times a day. I was often rewarded as well, for at her core my wife Cora has remained a little bundle of love.The carer's situation is a sad and lonely one but it would be lonelier still without voluntary organisations such as The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and Crosscare, who do everything possible to support the carer.Judith Ironside (July 1st) mentioned that there are more than 100,000 informal carers in Ireland and thousands more who are indirectly involved. I, like many of these thousands of people, held my breath during the announcement of the provisions of the last Budget. Surely something worthwhile would come our way? But I was disappointed. The present Government's Budget was a shameful one, going out of its way to favour the very rich.I agree with Judith Ironside that all organisations involved in caring should combine in what could be a very powerful organisation with considerable influence on government policies.However, carers' organisations will have to become more militant. We will have to be ready to put a campaign in place before the next general election which will advise carers not to vote for parties which refuse to provide for the sick and elderly at a time of plenty. - Yours, etc., Stanley Warren,Clontarf,Dublin 3.