Local authority faces strong opposition after announcing the closure of three day care homes.
These centers give people routine and social time. Many visitors go to the centers every single day. One family said closure will cause chaos because their mother attends Greenfield House a lot. She has gone there for over fifteen years. She is 88 and has mixed dementia. Leaving home is good for her health.
The closure is a disaster for many families. People depend on these centers for respite care. The centers offer social time and a structured day, otherwise, people stay indoors most of the time. One person stated the day care place is wonderful and her mother goes five days each week.
She gets very excited to visit the center, and they even provide transport. The local council stopped free transport earlier due to budget issues. Families now pay for transport to the centers, and the closure impacts users and the excellent staff too. Staff members include occupational therapists.
Families want action to save the centers now. West Berkshire Council will discuss this at a meeting on February 27. They will discuss it during budget talks. Councillor Patrick Clark talked about the decision and called it a difficult decision for the council.
He said they face exceptional circumstances right now. Ensuring care remains a top priority for them. The council plans a phased process for the closures and they will assess the needs of service users first.
Then, they will figure out how to meet those needs. The council plans to talk with day service providers. They want to explore future ways of delivering support. These talks will shape the offer users receive. The council promised support for everyone and will also support all staff during this shift. Many families will seek other care options.