Homes they would have kept under scheme

Widow who lost her family haven

NANCY Griffiths, 55, has lived in Kingston, southwest London, for 33 years.

She and her daughter Tai, 13, became very close to their elderly neighbours David and Violet Edwards, pictured right on their wedding day, regularly spending Christmas together.

David, who had worked for British Aerospace for many years, sadly developed dementia in 2016 and died two years later aged 92.

Violet had hoped to spend her final years in her marital home. However, because the couple had saved and lived frugally, David’s care had to be paid for privately at a cost of almost £2,000 a week.

After David’s death, Violet, 93, became very frail and was moved into a care home at an eyewatering cost of £65,000 per year.

Within four years, £300,000 of their hard-earned savings of about £400,000 had disappeared. Nancy, who had power of attorney, unfortunately had no option but to sell the Edwards’ house last year to pay for Violet’s care.

It had initially been on the market for £620,000 but – under pressure to sell – she was forced to accept a lower offer of £520,000.

‘David made everything in that house, from the conservatory to the fireplace – he even papered all the walls,’ said Nancy, pictured above. ‘It broke my heart to sell it.’

She added: ‘I fully support any changes to the law so that people don’t have to sell their home for social care. I think it’s completely wrong.

‘I’m not Violet’s daughter so I won’t be getting anything in the will, but I feel so sorry for people who expected to rely on money from their parents after they’ve died.’