Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
‘Bring back our warden service’
Unhappy residents‘cut adrift’by policy
Residents at James Dempsey Court in Coatbridge are calling for the reinstatement of their warden service, s aying they fe e l “completely abandoned” and“cut adrift”following a change in policy by North Lanarkshire Council.
T h e i r h o m e s w e re redesignated in April from sheltered housing to the authority’s new “amenity” category housing, withdrawing the services of their valued on-site staff member – while neighbours at James Dempsey Gardens, which forms part of the same complex, now have enhanced support after being reclassified as “sheltered plus” accommodation.
It means the elderly Court tenants – some of whom have dementia, while others are housebound or have various complex health or mobility issues – no longer receive a morning welfare call or have the reassurance of an on-site staff member holding a spare key to their homes for emergency use or assisting with tasks such as repairs and phone calls.
Dozens of concerned residents told the Advertiser of their worries arising from the lack of a warden, pointing out that their needs have not reduced since they moved into their homes, when they were designated as sheltered housing.
However, North Lanarkshire Council insist that help remains available for residents to assist them in living independently, and that “no- one requiring support and care has had this removed”.
Resident May Collins echoed the feelings of the whole group as she told the Advertiser: “We want the warden to be brought back, even for a couple of hours a day.”
She said: “We used to get a welfare call and everybody was happy with that. We were allocated homes here knowing there was somebody here to support us, but now there’s nobody on site for safety.
“We’ve been told that if we’re not happy, we can be allocated sheltered housing [elsewhere], but that could be anywhere and nobody wants to move from their homes – especially as these were allocated to us as sheltered housing and many of us waited years for one of these properties.”
Anne Fleming, who moved in less than a year ago, agreed: “I’d signed up to the warden service and was shown round the property before moving in; it was described as having all the sensors and support, and I was quite happy with that.”
Fellow resident Betty Brady said: “I’m concerned about my neighbours; there’s nobody who has keys now so if something happened there’s no chance of getting in – we’re completely unsupported.”
Margaret Muldoon, 88, has lived at James Dempsey Court for 20 years and said: “It used to be all one complex, but now it seems not; and we don’t have our call every day.”
Gillian Dow, whose mother is a resident at James Dempsey Court, said: “I’m her main carer and she has help in through the day, but it was reassuring for there to be a warden here.
“My mum has been here for 11 years and I don’t see why she should move elsewhere now.”
Ellen Griffiths said: “The warden used to help with phone calls and correspondence, and the most important thing was the morning call which was worth its weight in gold; now it feels as if we’ve been abandoned.”
Margaret Burns added: “It’s as if we’ve dropped off the face of the earth; why take the warden away from here and put on extra hours and support just next door?”
Their neighbour, Michael Doran, said: “This place was built as sheltered housing – nothing has changed and it isn’t more than one site.”
Residents and families insist that while they participated in last year’s consultation, they then received no fur t h e r communication about its outcome before the reclassification took place in April.
Letters have since been sent on their behalf to councillors, North Lanarkshire chief executive Des Mur ray, Coatbridge politicians Fulton MacGregor MSP and Hugh Gaffney MP, health secretary Jeane Freeman and the Care Inspectorate, saying the policy change has “rendered James Dempsey Court completely redundant in terms of sheltered housing”.
Writing to Mr Murray, they said: “These residents have been completely cut adrift by North Lanarkshire Council and are very fearful as a result; the complex might have been reclassified but the needs of the residents remain the same.
“Now they feel isolated from their neighbours just yards away in James Dempsey Gardens, are uncomfortable using the common room, and there is no- one to support residents with mobility issues to enable them to attend events which provide social interaction.
“The financial argument does not add up when you consider that the council has removed a service to enhance another; it’s not acceptable to abandon people whose support needs remain the same. James Dempsey Court needs its warden back.”
Stephen Llewellyn, the council’s head of housing solutions, said: “We continue to provide vital support within our older people’s housing to those residents who need it most. Noone requiring support and care has had this removed.
“From April we made changes to the way we allocate older people’s housing, matching people to the best housing options available based on the applicant’s support needs (high, medium and low).
“As part of this review, assessments took place both in terms of housing and social work provision to ensure residents receive the most appropriate care and support to continue living independently.
“We understand that change may cause concern for our older residents and we’re doing all we can to provide information and reassurance, including open days, newsletters and leaflets, and have offered to reassess all residents who feel their circumstances may have changed to ensure they are receiving all appropriate services.
“We make sure there are social opportunities for people living at James Dempsey Court to help them maintain friendships such as attending lunch clubs and other events; at all times where there is an identified support need, then support will be provided to meet this.”