Vital that we keep day centre open
Re: Closure of Pinelea Day Centre in Midsomer Norton.
I am writing to share this sad fact more publicly.
I am a volunteer at a “Singing for the Brain “Group for those with dementia and their carers in the Norton Radstock area (and further afield).
This fortnightly singing group is run for the Alzheimer’s Society. Radstock Council contributes by funding the venue.
The afternoon is of just as much value to carers as to those with dementia since it gives them a time when someone else takes responsibility for the well-being of their partner or family member.
Sometimes carers are exhausted mentally and physically because of the pressures placed on them as a result of the 24 hour care that they give day in day out.
Many have no other regular support and this only gets worse as the dementia develops. For these people places like Pinelea are a vital support.
For those of you who are unaware of this facility, Pinelea is a purpose-built centre in Midsomer Norton which is owned, I believe, by B&NES and presently run by the Alzheimer’s Society to provide specialist day care for those with dementia.
This gives some respite, perhaps one day a week, for carers whilst knowing that the attendees are being looked after and entertained.
A few weeks ago those using this care were told that it was to close.
This proposed closure has come out of the blue for those who use Pinelea and I understand it is because the charity can no longer afford to run it.
This is outrageous! Local authority care and support for the elderly and those with dementia is inadequate at the best of times with an over-reliance on the work of charities and volunteers.
The people who will suffer as a result are those who may not be accessing any other more expensive public services.
The closure is a false economy. It is in the council’s interest that centres like Pinelea are kept open.
Very often the people most affected are not able or lack the time and energy to agitate for themselves and thus are “soft targets”.
It makes sense for such centres to be run by specialist charities like the Alzheimer’s Society but governments and local councils cannot expect to receive this free.
I don’t recall any mention of social care in the grand spending plans of our new government or even our own local council.
In fact I don’t recall any grand schemes for the Norton Radstock area at all! Don’t forget that we have all been told that austerity is at an end!
Recently in this area we have lost our libraries, our maternity department and now a valued care facility. Bath has kept its library intact.
There is to be a brand new maternity hospital in a city with a predominance of people past child bearing age!
Now if those with dementia wish to access day care in the future they have to attend a centre in Bath where they will be one of up to 50 people instead of in a smaller local environment with a family atmosphere.
Attendees will have to leave early in the morning to travel to Bath by bus. Anyone with experience will know that for some carers this will be almost impossible to achieve.
Grand infrastructure schemes make wonderful headlines but the most important issue in any locality is the welfare of all its inhabitants. Governments whether local or national seem to have lost sight of this.
I hope they will think again and ask the people who live here where their spending priorities lie. Kathleen Still By email