Residents' fury over on-site wardens' future
RESIDENTS of a sheltered housing complex in Buchan have united in anger over proposed plans to cut a vital lifeline.
The elderly residents of Invercain Court have said they are "furious" at Aberdeenshire Council's decision to review their needs with the possibility of removing their on-site warden.
Situated on the outskirts of Fraserburgh, the sheltered housing is home to 16 residents - who all claim their safety will be in jeopardy if the plans materialise.
Speaking to the Herald, Dennis Newman, a resident at Invercairn Court, told of his fears for himself and elderly people who would be left in an "increasingly vulnerable" situation.
He said: "It is in the pipeline to take away our full-time warden and we cannot let this happen.
"We have a fantastic warden who has been here for 20 years and we do not know what we would do without her.
"A lot of the residents here are extremely vulnerable and some of them stay in their rooms most of the time, they can't leave. What would it mean for them to have nobody here when they need help?
"We are experiencing the same cutbacks that are going on all over the place but we cannot let this happen. A similar thing has happened to the residents of Willowbank at Peterhead and it has got to stop.
"Why do we pay all this money if they continue to cut back on vital resources?"
Mr Newman added that there are three routes which he believes the council may take, including reducing the hours of the present warden, implementing a mobile warden service, or allowing the court to remain the same - and he claims that he is doubtful they will be able to carry on as they are.
He added: "They continue to charge us the same amount each month but are not prepared to fulfil their end of the contract - which is to provide us with a warden so we feel safe in our own homes.
"Sheltered housing is supposed to be primarily about safety and if we do not have a warden on-hand for when they are needed then people will deteriorate."
John Kennedy (81), said: "We all pay for the service of having a warden - and we have a great one, she does a fantastic job. But the council cannot insist we pay the money if they are planning on taking away our warden."
Residents claim the most a person will pay in a month to cover the cost of care and support can be as much as 62 each - not including their rent which is said to be nearly 300.
Another resident who is in his seventies told of his fear at losing a warden as he is prone to sleepwalking and claims he will not feel safe without an on-site warden.
"I have been on tablets for quite some time now and they have not been agreeing with me and have caused me to start sleep walking," he said.
"One night I ended up at the other end of the village, it was cold and I ended up in hospital as I fell and cut my head and needed 20 stitches.
"If it wasn't for the warden watching over me during the night, something like this could happen again. It's the same for a lot of other residents here.
"They won't feel they are in safe hands if there is not an on-duty warden. I have been here for 13 years and I trust the warden we have", he said.
Mr Newman added that he would be "utterly devastated" if the cuts for the sheltered housing got the go ahead.
He said: "It is important to the residents to receive the best care possible, many of them are very vulnerable. I worry that the residents will lose their self-confidence if this plan goes ahead.
"I'm utterly devastated at the thought of a warden not being here. Many of the residents that are here have known her since they moved in over a decade ago. This is her whole life and their safety is paramount. She'll lose her house as well which is right next door."
A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council said: "We are currently reviewing our sheltered housing service to ensure future provision will continue to meet the needs of tenants and provide best value.
"We canvassed the views of our sheltered housing tenants about a range of issues and the results are being used to inform an option appraisal process. We will shortly be meeting with tenants to discuss these options.
"No decisions have been made about any changes to the current service arrangements. Recommendations arising from the review, including the views of tenants, will be presented in a report to councillors later this year."
The current warden at Invercairn Court, who has been there for over 20 years, did not wish to comment.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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