Ripped apart after 80 years...separate care for brother and sister
A DEVOTED brother and sister have been forced to live apart for the first time in 80 years after social services placed them in different care homes.
June and Jack Johnson are too ill to stay independently at their home in Stockport, Greater Manchester, but a GP has recommended they remain together for mutual support.
Jack, 84, who has been blind since his 20s, has dementia and recently broke his neck in a fall at home.
He was released from hospital and sent to a care home in the Davenport area of the town in December.
His sister June, 86, who has osteoporosis, arthritis, heart problems and milder dementia, also suffered a fall and needed hospital treatment.
She was then put in a care home in the Heaton Chapel area where – two months later – she is still awaiting her assessment for a permanent place.
Her daughter, Lorraine Jordan, is the siblings’ only remaining family member and cared for them both until it became too much for her.
Lorraine, 54, said: “They have been ripped apart. To hear my mum ask when they are going to be together again is heartbreaking, they rely on each other to keep going.
“When you are used to having someone around all your life it is upsetting and worrying. Their care needs are sufficiently similar to be together.
“I don’t understand why the assessment has taken so long.”
Lorraine was able to get Jack and June together at her home for Christmas Day but brother and sister have only seen each other once since then.
Lorraine said: “The whole situation has been an emotional nightmare and I am very frustrated and angry that my mum in particular has not had the social work support that she needs.”
A GP’s letter recommends the pair “be placed in the same care home as Jack is totally blind and because of his dementia is likely to be confused without the reassurance of his sister”.
Wendy Wild, deputy leader and executive member for adult social care at Stockport Council, said: “Unfortunately, for reasons of case confidentiality the council is unable to comment on individual cases.” Siblings June and Jack Johnson lived together for 80 years until they were placed in different care homes last year