Widespread closures of day centres, and a drastic hollowing out of those left
behind, are taking a vital lifeline away from elderly and vulnerable people,
said UNISON, the UK’s largest union today (17 June).
The union is calling on the Government to face up to the crisis in care and
ensure that local councils are given the funding they need to keep day care
centres running. The closures are a false economy argues UNISON because
they provide much needed respite for carers, as well as monitoring and
improving the physical and mental health of users.
Based on a survey of social care workers, a new report by the University of
Birmingham’s Health Services Management Centre for the union, reveals that
57% have seen day centres close down. Three workers knew of 30, 20 and 12
that had closed. Services for elderly people were hardest hit, followed by
those for people with learning and physical disabilities. More than half said
they are aware that more changes will be made in the future, as deeper cuts
to social care budgets are made.
Where day centres are not closing, two thirds say that restrictions are being
placed on access to services, with 71% reporting provision has changed in the
last three years. In some areas, only those with a critical need can now access
day centres. Some people are being told they can no longer visit a day centre
at all, whilst in others, the hours that people can come are being drastically
reduced.
Two-thirds report increasing charges for attendance, meals and transport,
with some centres stopping the provision of fresh meals entirely. Many of
those surveyed said that these fee rises were substantial – often going from a
minimal charge to as much as £50 a day. This huge hike is particularly hard
for those on fixed incomes to cope with – the majority of day centre users.
Trips and activities are also being drastically cut -many of which are crucial to
the health and wellbeing of day care centre users.
Elderly and vulnerable people are also being moved to centres further away
from home, making it difficult for them to carry on attending. As specialist
day care centres close, people are being transferred into ‘multi-use’ centres –
social care workers say this is particularly distressing for elderly people, and
for young adults with learning and physical disabilities. Many social care
workers also reported inadequate consultation with staff, parents and carers,
as well as with the people who use the centres, over planned changes.
Heather Wakefield, UNISON head of local government said:
“The coalition’s cuts and austerity agenda are hitting some of the UK’s most
vulnerable people and another round of budget cuts means this situation will
only get worse.
“For elderly people, day centres guard against loneliness, their loss is
devastating. Research has revealed loneliness to be as deadly as smoking,
alcohol or obesity for a person’s health, so these cuts could cost lives. The
cuts are also a false economy, as more elderly people will be forced into long-
term care, or into A&E – a far more expensive option for the taxpayer.
“For a young person with learning or physical disabilities, a day care centre
can be their main chance to build friendships and an enriching social life. As
cuts close them down, families will be left to pick up the pieces, but they too
will miss out on the vital respite that day centres can bring from their caring
responsibilities.
“The government needs to face up to the crisis in care and ensure that local
councils are given the funding they need to keep day care centres open.
Spending cuts are not inevitable. There are other choices that the Tory-led
coalition could, and should be taking to protect some of the most vulnerable
people in our society.”
Dr Catherine Needham, from the University of Birmingham’s Health Services
Management Centre, who carried out the research, said:
“Reduced access to day centres reflects the pressures of introducing
personalised funding streams at the same time as making massive cuts to
social care budgets. The commitment to choice and control within the
personalisation agenda is absolutely right: no one should be made to attend a
day centre if that is not what they want to do. But choice may be taken away
from service users if a valued day centre is closed, particularly when the
alternative is more time spent at home. Personalisation can’t be an agenda for
empowerment and inclusion without a funding settlement that preserves both
private dignity and public spaces.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
Case Studies from report
The daughter of (Mr E) from the South East of England is totally dependent on
him, his wife and on others, and visits a day care centre five days a week, he
said:
“My daughter used to take part in activities every day, including visits to a
hydrotherapy pool, which her neurosurgeon and local GPs say is vital for
maintaining what is left of her very limited movement. Along with other
activities her hydrotherapy sessions have now been cut completely. This has
taken a huge toll on my daughter. She is having frequent bouts of crying, and
is not sleeping well. It is obvious to my wife and I that she is very distressed.
This places an extra strain on us at home. The council is not only neglecting
the needs of my daughter, but is also neglecting the needs of parents and
carers, as well as deliberately ignoring our basic human rights as parents and
carers in our old age.
“I am extremely worried that my wife is being pushed, once again, to the point
where she can no longer cope Ð just as she was when she had a major life
threatening operation some years ago. I am becoming increasingly concerned
that she will have a nervous breakdown. We are both in our sixties, and on top
of the daily stresses and strains, I worry about what will happen when we are
not around to look after our daughter.
“It makes me angry that people are sitting in offices, making decisions at the
stroke of a pen, with no idea about how much they will affect peopleÕs lives. If
families like ours did not look after their children at home, or could no longer
cope due to the stress that the councilÕs decisions are putting us under, our
local authority would have to pay much more to look after my daughter and
other young adults with learning and physical disabilities like her in
residential homes. This would cost tens of thousands of pounds more every
year. Instead of applying the butcherÕs knife to vital services, councils should
bear this in mind.”
In Mr E’s area, five day centres have been cut; where there used to be nine
centres, there are now only four. Those cut include a purpose built specialist
day care centre, completed less than five years ago that Mr EÕs young
daughter used to attend. She is now in a ‘mixed use’ day centre that also
includes elderly people Ð this does not give her the stimulation that she
needs.
Deep cuts have been made to the number of care workers, and to the
transport workers who used to drive people to and from day centres. In place
of council employed care workers, agency care workers are now used Ð this
costs the council much more in agency fees.
Comments from social care workers in the survey
“The expectation is that they will be supported from home. Only those classed
as complex, severe or are at risk are to receive a day service.”
“Learning disabilities, physical disabilities, elderly daycentres clumped
together at mealtimes, older people cannot adjust to the noise or the lack of
attention to their various health issues. The younger people are allowed to
wander where they choose, causing a lot of older service users to leave the
daycentre services for good. The day service centres that are now used are
inadequate for older people, too cold, no proper provisions for constant heat
during the cold spells, Too long to travel to the centres for many. No
provision for them to go on trips like they could before.”
“People do need to have a greater need than social isolation, which we used to
be able to use.”
“In my particular department most of the people I support only paid a minimal
day charge. This will be increasing to approximately £50 a day. Most people
cannot afford this and so will need to finish their placement in order to
continue receiving essential care at home.”
“The council has cut all older peoplesÕ day centres. Gave the least amount of
consultation they could get away with, no consideration was given to what the
older people would do when the day centres closed.”