Sir, - The executive of the National Association of Widows in Ireland wishes to congratulate Mr Michael Mills, former Ombudsman, for his outspoken address at the conference organised by the National Council on Ageing and Older People. He said: "I have come across cases where the spouse of the ill person was reduced to poverty in trying to meet the nursing-home costs of the partner and where the issue was further complicated by the health board pursuing other members of the family for payment".The association has over a long number of years decried the treatment handed out to our older members of society who need nursing-home care (financial costs, lack of therapy and supervision, etc.). One can only be shocked at what Mr Mills has highlighted. The health boards have put outrageous stress on the families of those who are in nursing homes by placing a financial burden on them to meet these costs and some of their relatives are pushed into poverty by this inhuman system.The association calls on the new Minister for Health, Mr Brian Cowen, to please closely examine these charges and to instruct the health boards to drop this policy as it applies to partners and to their relatives forthwith.We would also recommend that other points made by Mr Mills be noted regarding the printing of simpler official documents and keeping pensions within the level of inflation. - Yours, etc.,Sheila Conroy,National PRO,National Association ofWidows in Ireland (Dublin Branch),Dublin 7.