DAY centres are needed specifically for older members of the Asian community, says Ricki Hussein Wycombe district councillor for Sands.

Cllr Hussein was speaking at a meeting of Wycombe cabinet last Monday where members agreed a draft county- wide strategy for older people .

He said he wanted to highlight the fact that older Asians were facing a care crisis nationwide, according to a report from the Policy Research Institute.

The report said the number of Asians over 65 would treble in the next five years and that local councils were failing to respond to their needs.

It could not be assumed that older Asian people would not use state care services.

Cllr Hussein said sometimes state care was not appropriate because carers did not speak the same language and although Asian people might not mind being with English older people, nearly all older people liked to be in familiar situations.

David Cox, the council's deputy leader, said he would take Cllr Hussein's points into account.