'Elderly will be isolated’ if Telford day care centre closure goes ahead
A furious Telford councillor has called for more to be done to protect a day centre for vulnerable adults.
Councillor Pat McCarthy said the loss of Wellington's Cottage Care could leave many elderly people cut off from the outside world.
His mother Iris is one of those that currently use the service and he said he would seriously struggle without the centre's help.
Councillor McCarthy's comments come after it was revealed the centre could close by the end of June if more users are not found.
Staff last week announced that the centre had no future because of dwindling numbers and lack of funds.
Councillor McCarthy, of Telford & Wrekin's Green Party, said the town was losing an "excellent and very rare resource".
"Cottage Care has made a considerable difference in my mum's life," he said. "She has gone from someone who suffered with depression to someone who has a much more positive outlook on life.
"Because I work full time, being my mum's carer as well is a considerable logistics problem, and will be if we can't find alternatives to the closure."
Letters were sent to users last month warning of the imminent closure. Nursing manager Sue Harris said unless 10 to 15 more users are found, it would have to shut its doors.
Councillor McCarthy said: "Cottage Care, in Wellington has struggled to find enough customers to make their day centre viable since the cuts in social care services began to bite.
"From a situation where it subsidised most of the placements, Telford & Wrekin Council cut its funding by more than half in 2013/14.
"The centre withstood this decrease until this year when there has been another drastic drop in the placements paid for by the Council. It is therefore down to individuals to pay the £40 to £60 a day costs.
"Some users have been fortunate enough to do this from their own funds but I am well aware that a lot of people in need of such a placement cannot afford to pay but, under our council’s present rules, don’t qualify for any assistance from the social care budget.
"I suspect there are many elderly people who want or desperately needed the care given by Cottage Care and other threatened services, but for whom the cost has been prohibitive."
Councillor McCarthy said there was now the risk of increased costs for elderly people to get care at home.
He said: "Day centres fulfil a wide range of functions for their users and those who care for them.
"Such day care provision can provide respite for family carers or give them the opportunity to work. Cottage Care provides their users with a healthy well balanced hot meal. They also hold exercise classes - vital for the health and welfare of their users. There is entertainment and obviously the social interaction which people might not have available elsewhere.
"Now 65 users and their families will be left with few viable alternatives. Many will be faced with every day at home without the human contact that Cottage Care provided and which in many cases prolonged a more meaningful life. Or they might have to pay for carers to come in for short periods through the day at even greater cost.
"It is well known that we have a growing elderly population and an increasing number of people being diagnosed with all forms of dementia. Surely it is time for the Council to have a rethink about their budgetary priorities so centres like Cottage Care can continue their invaluable services to our vulnerable elderly residents."
