Wirral carers and residents knock council’s social services’ consultation process

Nov 4 2009 by Carrie Catterall, Birkenhead News

CARERS have accused the council of “abdicating responsibility” of the elderly in the adult social services shake-up.

Despite the council’s consultation process carers and residents at Pensall House say they feel they have been left out.

They say they feel more of an emphasis is being put on services for people with learning disabilities and the responsibility for the elderly is being abdicated.

If plans go ahead, Poulton House, Wallasey, could be developed into a dementia centre and Pensall House, Pensby, could provide respite for people with learning disabilities.

This would leave the elderly using personal budgets given to them by the council to pay for them to live in their own home for longer or for care in the private sector.

One carer at Pensall House said: “We feel like the duty of care to the elderly has gone.

“The people I look after tell me they feel like they’re a nuisance because they are living too long.

“I overheard one resident say ‘I can’t believe our husbands fought in the war for us to be treated like this.’