Carers 'face breakdown' as dementia services cut

Users of a dementia care centre in Dudley say services in the borough are being cut back without proper consultation.

Last year, campaigners successfully fought to keep the Crystal Gateway centre in Amblecoate open despite council plans to close it.

But now users of the centre say services are being downgraded without consultation, with one carer saying she has been told a respite session for her husband was being axed.

However, Dudley Council said it was "transforming how support is delivered and broadening access across the borough, not withdrawing support for people living with dementia and their carers".

Lynda Austin's partner John was 59 when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's seven years ago.

For the last three years he's been attending the centre for the respite sessions, which allow her to take a break.

Otherwise she doesn't have any time to herself, says Austin, whose son also has a disability.

"I can't leave [John] alone for minute run case he wanders, falls or touches something hot," she tells the BBC.

"He can't cook, or dress, my life is dedicated to keeping him safe."

But to her dismay two weeks ago, while the new prime minister made a speech about plans to fix adult social care, received a phone call to tell her the respite sessions were being axed.

Austin said an apologetic social worker told her "they are shutting it and we are giving you two weeks notice".

Austin's husband can still attend activities at the centre, but will have to be accompanied by her as there will be no one on hand to assist him.

She thinks the council has a responsibility to support carers through offering weekly respite sessions, especially because private sessions are not only expensive but hard to find.

"Carers will be pushed into breakdowns by this," Austin says. "It's already happening."

Councillor Andrew Tromans raised the issue of service reduction at a recent meeting of the council's health and adult social care scrutiny committee.

"Yes they are keeping the building open, but the services that are valued are going," he said.

"I'm not an adult social care expert, but what I do know is you are caring for someone with dementia your life is already stressful [and] change without consultation is really distressing.

"Things are done to people rather than done with them in Dudley."

The council said it could not comment on individual circumstances.

But councillor Andrea Goddard, cabinet member for adult social care and public health said the needs of individuals are being assessed.

"Anyone accessing services at Crystal Gateway are receiving and individual care assessment or review, to ensure their assessed needs, and where appropriate those of their carers continue to be met through appropriate support arrangements," she said.

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.