Brother and sister are ‘ripped apart’ after 80 years
Inseparable siblings suffering dementia and other medical conditions are put in different care homes
A DEVOTED brother and sister have been ‘ripped apart’ and forced to live separately for the first time in 80 years after social services placed them in different care homes.
June and Jack Johnson, 86 and 84, are too ill to stay independently at their house off Hillgate, central Stockport, but a GP has recommended they remain together. Jack is totally blind, has dementia and broke his neck in a fall at home.
Following a hospital stay his care needs were assessed and he was placed in Davenport Manor, Davenport, in December.
June, who has osteoporosis, arthritis, heart problems and milder dementia, also suffered a fall and needed hospital treatment. But upon her discharge she was put in Marbury House, Heaton Chapel, where nearly two months later she is still awaiting her assessment for a permanent place.
Her daughter Lorraine Jordan said: “They have been ripped apart. To hear my mum ask when they are going to be together again is heartbreaking.”
ADEVOTED brother and sister have been ‘ripped apart’ and forced to live separately for the first time in 80 years after social services placed them in different care homes.
June and Jack Johnson, 86 and 84, are too ill to stay independently at their house on Ebbdale Road, central Stockport, but a GP has recommended they remain together.
Jack is totally blind and has dementia, and broke his neck in a fall at home.
Following a hospital stay his care needs were assessed and he was placed in Davenport Manor, Davenport, in December.
June, who has osteoporosis, arthritis, heart problems and milder dementia, also suffered a fall and needed hospital treatment.
But upon her discharge she was put in Marbury House, Heaton Chapel, where nearly two months later she is still awaiting her assessment for a permanent place.
Her daughter, and Jack’s niece, Lorraine Jordan is their 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.
“Family is everything and we are a family that has always stuck together.
“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 they have only seen each other once since then.
A GP 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’.
June and Jack, who worked in engineering and has been blind since his 20s, grew up on Brook Street, in central Stockport.
Neither married so they continued to live together. Coun Wendy Wild, deputy leader and executive member for adult social care at Stockport Council, said: “Unfortunately, for reasons of case confidentiality, Stockport Council is unable to comment on individual cases. However, in all cases we aim to improve and maintain people’s independence whilst providing them with the appropriate care to help meet their needs.”