Dementia sufferers face disruption as Sandwell day care services to move
Day services for elderly dementia sufferers will be shifted up to five miles across the Black Country, under cost-cutting plans.
Sandwell Council wants to bring its day care service under one roof at Walker Grange in Tipton.
But it could mean significant upheaval for elderly people, many of whom suffer with dementia, and their families, with 10 users having to switch from Holly Grange in Smethwick and another seven from Manifoldia Grange, West Bromwich.
The changes have been recommended for approval despite a majority of families and users indicating they would prefer to remain where they are.
Seven jobs are set to be lost as a result of the change.
However, council bosses have decided against pursuing an option that would have seen the council stop providing the service and elderly users placed with independent providers instead due to the level of objections during a consultation.
But for regular users of the day care centres, it will mean trips to Tipton in the north of the borough - a considerable distance from Smethwick.
Council chiefs said they needed to act as there has been a 'gradual decline' in usage of the service and that it made financial sense to bring all of people together at Walker Grange, its specialist seven-day service for dementia sufferers.
Just over half of people who took part in the consultation said they wanted the services to remain as they are.
Responses showed users were worried about losing contact with their friends if they had been forced to move to an independent provider, and the quality of the service.
Bosses said should anyone turn down the move to Walker Grange, they would be supported in finding an independent provider.
A council report said: "Walker Grange is the council’s third extra care scheme which also provides a seven-day borough wide specialist day service for older people with dementia.
"This would enable current access to day services to be continued and support friendship groups to be maintained.
"This option recognises that the dependency of current users is increasing, in many instances due to the development of dementia.
"Walker Grange is well-placed as a specialist dementia service to appropriately support these individuals. There are adequate facilities to accommodate the current users from Manifoldia and Holly Grange within this established day service."
