Daughter 'horrified' at Derbyshire dementia day centre closure threat

Sarah Bickerton said her 93-year-old mother Betty "flourishes" at the centre

The daughter of an elderly woman living with dementia said she is "absolutely horrified" at potential plans to close down a day centre her mum attends.

Sarah Bickerton's 93-year-old mother Betty goes to the Eccles Fold Resource Centre in Chapel-en-le-Frith three times a week and "flourishes" there.

But Derbyshire County Council is consulting on closing several care homes and day centres to save money.

Ms Bickerton said: "Making these cuts is hitting the most vulnerable."

The Eccles Fold Resource Centre is under threat of closure

The council is asking for views on plans to close up to 11 care homes and eight day centres across the county.

Social care bosses said the new model would focus on "short-term enablement" for older people and specialist services for people with dementia and their carers.

This aims to offer a mix of specialist dementia care and respite care.

Ms Bickerton said her mother, a former accounting software engineer, was diagnosed with dementia in 2012 while living in Wilmslow, Cheshire, and moved in with her four years later.

'Cruel illness'

Picking up a photo of her mother's eight grandchildren and children, Ms Bickerton said: "These were happier times when mum knew who we all were. But sadly, she hasn't really known me for about two years.

"It's a really cruel illness because you gradually lose your parents over a long period of time - she doesn't know me, but she recognises the familiarity of me being there, but she couldn't name me.

"The centre she uses is fabulous, and the staff are extremely skilled at coping with mum's dementia.

"I know that she's happy there. When I go to pick her up, she's smiling at the end of the day. Mum flourishes in that environment."

Ms Bickerton said the centre and the staff are "fantastic"

Ms Bickerton said she recognises there is a "limited pot" of money the council has to spend but added: "It strikes me in making these cuts it is hitting the most vulnerable in our communities; the elderly, those with dementia where some have got no voice and can't stand up and fight against these closures.

"So it's almost an easy financial decision... I'm absolutely horrified - this is the only other environment that is familiar to mum where she feels safe."

The care homes under threat are:

• Briar Close, Borrowash

• Bennerley Fields, Cotmanhay

• Castle Court, Swadlincote

• Florence Shipley, Heanor

• The Grange, Eckington

• Lacemaker Court, Long Eaton

• The Leys, Ashbourne

• New Bassett House, Shirebrook

• Rowthorne, Swanwick

• Thomas Colledge, Bolsover

• Whitestones, Chapel-en-le-Frith

The day centres at risk of closure are:

• Blackwell Day Centre, Bolsover

• Eccles Fold Resource Centre, Chapel-en-le-Frith

• Fabrick Day Services, Clay Cross

• Hasland Resource Centre, Chesterfield

• Jubilee Centre, New Mills

• Queen's Court, Buxton

• Shirevale Resource Centre, Shirebrook

• Valley View Day Centre, Bolsover

Rising demand

Councillor Natalie Hoy, cabinet member for adult care, said: "We've always prided ourselves on being a well-managed council, but like all other councils across the country, we're facing increasing financial pressures that are outside our control.

"And with demand for adult social care support rising, it means we have to consider how we continue to deliver the services we're required to.

"This is not a position we want to be in, but with the pressures on budgets beyond our control, we need to focus our resources where they're needed most."