We live in what used to be deemed sheltered housing and three years ago the warden was made redundant. Absolutely no systems were put in place with a view to caring for the more frail and vulnerable residents here. Pope John Paul II once said that “a society will be judged on how it treats its weakest members” - society probably has no idea what is happening to its older, frailer people.
The Cabinet Minister for Adult Social Care for our area informed me that the budget has been cut so drastically that the money simply isn’t there to assist in any way. The landlords, who happily accept our rent, do not care at all and deem it not their role to visit the frail, housebound people here. They even told us that we should not be helping others without written permission - difficult, given that one person is blind and deaf, another so crippled she cannot write!
This has meant that, while we have the health and strength, those of us who are able to do so render assistance where possible. Not in the actual physical care, but in the multitude of other things which can crop up and in notifying the relevant people when there is a marked deterioration in someone’s health and well being.
Our GP pointed out to social services that those here in the sheltered wings, ranging from 60 to 98 years old, have fallen into a black hole as far as care is concerned. With the help of our GP and with a considerable amount of boat-rocking, we have now been allocated a key worker to whom we can appeal for assessments when things are becoming crucial; then help may be forthcoming.
There is no easy solution to any of this. I think we all need to develop extra eyes and ears. Living in community of a sort, which includes sheltered housing, it is hard work and an uphill daily battle not to feel irritated at times.
Ann Robertson, Surrey
Loading ...
