Day centre chairman dismisses attack on management

Kirsty Gibbins • Published 16 Feb 2012 09:22 1 Comment

THE management of Dunbar Day Centre has dismissed claims that the facility is being used by East Lothian Council as a "cheap way" of providing respite care for vulnerable elderly residents in the community.

The Courier recently received an anonymous letter from an unhappy member of the day centre, claiming social users are being excluded from the facility as the management has increasingly become more focused on providing care and meals for frailer visitors.

The letter writer stated: "The management committee has changed the use of the centre, with the encouragement of the [East Lothian Council] social work department, to the detriment of social members. It is using the day centre as a cheap way of solving respite care. Instead of providing a suitable venue the council get a provider at arm's-length from them."

Stephen Bunyan, day centre chairman, explained that since 1994, the centre has accepted a requirement that it would provide support and lunch for the frail elderly as a result of the 1990 NHS and Community Care Act.

There are 14 people whose carers rely on the day-care provision in the centre for respite through the day. The facility's current caseload of frail, elderly and isolated people is 44. The centre provides 20 lunches on a daily basis - a weekly total of 100 - which is a greater number than in several other day centres in the county.

However, Mr Bunyan insisted the centre serves a "dual purpose" and is still very much available to social users, as well as more vulnerable individuals, and that plans were under way to improve the provision of activities.

He said: "The persistence of a very small minority in pursuing their grievances via the press is unhelpful and counterproductive. They do not have the support of members in general and it seems that they do not have the courage to put their names to public criticism.

"The anonymous letter refers to the application for funding to the RBS Community Force project. They use this as evidence to show our desire to make provision for the frail elderly. The management committee is happy to accept that they consider this to be a priority. They received widespread support from the community in this application, and came within a whisper of receiving the grant.

"The management committee will continue to work alongside those membes who wish to develop the centre in a positive way."

Staff at the day centre include a coordinator, three assistant coordinators, a passenger assistant, dedicated driver and a cleaner.

One day centre user, Ann, 92, has been a regular visitor to the facility for 15 years. She told the Courier: "There are plenty of things going on for everyone to enjoy here and I'd be completely lost without the day centre. The staff are so kind and they are very good at their jobs."

An East Lothian Council spokeswoman said: "All day centres were assessed in line with a three-tier structure for funding, which was approved by cabinet last year.

"These levels are: 1 Standard level - offering all day support to older people with lower support needs; 2 Mixed level - offering places to some people with higher level needs ie may have personal care needs or need more supervision because of dementia; 3 - More Intense level, offering places only to individuals with intense/complex needs.

"Dunbar was assessed as providing standard level support. There is no pressure from the council for day centres to run in a particular way, this decision is entirely up to management committees. Dunbar has seen its funding increased this year by £11,000 and it now receives around £40,000 per year plus £60,000 in council transport services.

"I can clarify that no respite care is requested or allocated to the day centre from the council and the management committee currently does not offer this level of service."

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• 

  Socialist
  Unregistered User
  Feb 16, 12:15
  Report comment

  Day Centres do play a huge part in providing a service for many elderly people, while I cannot comment on the above, I would agree that the role of the Day Centre will change as Councils will expect more and more from these centres with a growing elderly population.
  
  In the case of "Dementia" sufferers these centres will become an easy option rather that see resources targeted in other ways.
  
  This is a serious issue which all parties, both local and national must seriously look at.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 6     No 2

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