Fears over OAPs’ safety after night wardens axed
RELATIVES say the removal of a night warden service for vulnerable elderly tenants has taken away their peace of mind.
Major care provider Bield, which promotes supported accommodation for the elderly, is to to cut the10pm to 8am warden service at six residential units in Glasgow from June 1.
Families fear relatives will be more at risk from falls, accidents, fires and criminals targeting the elderly without a 24-hour warden on site.
The company is cutting its Flexicare service after incurring “significant losses” over the past three years which will significantly reduce oneto-one care.
As well as providing a night warden, elderly residents are offered help with shopping and meals and benefit from a range of social events.
Bield said the loss of the service was “regrettable” but unavoidable due to a drop in funding from Glasgow City Council and the city’s new health and social care partnership.
A total of 229 tenants will be affected by the changes. Care staff say they have been told to accept a major cut in their hours – 40 hours a month in some cases – or opt for voluntary redundancy.
Brian Caldicott’s 91-year-old mother-in-law has been a resident at the Kintail Gardens development in Darnley for more than three years.
Mr Caldicott, who is from Penilee, said: “Four years ago she collapsed in her own flat and we got her put into Bield housing, safe in the knowledge that there was a warden there 24 hours. “She was happy and quite secure. “The are now removing the night service. They say there will be no warden from 10pm to 8am. That’s a big gap.
“What it means is that we are back to square one.
“All that she will have to depend on is an alarm around her neck.
“With the warden there someone could be there in minutes to help if an elderly person falls.
“We had peace of mind. I feel that for a 91-year-old woman, her peace of mind has also been taken away.
“It’s all about independent living with a bit of support.
“It was a tremendous place and it’s sad that they are doing this.
“It’s a failure in the duty of care I think. They are trying to keep the elderly people there but with much less staff and you know what happens when that happens.
“The company are removing the most important services.”
A spokesman for Bield said:“We are very aware of the impact on existing service users and to help allay concerns we will be holding individual meetings with service users and their families.
“We are progressing the meetings as a priority to help reassure all those impacted by the planned changes.
“They will provide an opportunity to discuss in detail the needs of each service user and their individual requirements going forward.
“We will be working with Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership/ Glasgow City Council to support those particularly affected by the withdrawal of the sleepover service so they can be assessed for alternative help where required.
“While we regrettably have to make the changes, our priority at this time is to ensure we work with together with all parties involved to put in place a support package for those requiring additional care.”