Fears ‘senseless’ cuts will hit vulnerable people in Norwich’s sheltered housing
Older people could suffer because of cuts to support services in sheltered housing, the deputy leader of Norwich City Council has warned.
Some of the most vulnerable people in Norwich could suffer because of what the deputy leader of the city council has branded “senseless” cuts to support in sheltered housing.
City Hall bosses have started visiting the 1,000 people in their 26 sheltered housing schemes about what might have to change because of cuts agreed by Norfolk County Council.
The county council is reducing what it spends on housing support from £10.5m to £4.7m by 2018/19 and that means the city council has £292,500 less to spend.
Workshops aim to aid communication between carers and people with dementia
A charity is putting the focus on helping carers of people living with dementia at a series of free workshops.
Age UK Norwich is running simple, friendly information workshops at easy-to-reach locations around Norwich for anyone who is struggling to support a person diagnosed with dementia, including tips on the best ways to communicate and understanding common behaviour associated with the condition.
Marie Lucas, dementia development lead for the city-based charity, said: “We have already held three sessions, and they have gone really well. One gentleman whose mother recently had a dementia diagnosis told us that, after getting the diagnosis from her GP, he had not known where to go next or what help was available. That is something we often hear. What we are trying to do is to empower carers and give them confidence. We can ’signpost’ them to what other help is available, and we can also give them tips and information about coping with everyday situations.”
Respite cuts leave parents of disabled children across Norfolk ‘in tears’
Parents of youngsters with profound disabilities are protesting against changes in the way residential short breaks are allocated, which they say have taken away a “lifeline” and left some of them with 50pc fewer respite hours or, in some cases, no residential respite at all.
Sarah Dewhurst with 14-year-old Alice, who has profound and multiple disabilities. Picture: KAREN BETHELL
In March of this year, council chiefs announced changes affecting up to 1,000 Norfolk youngsters.
These meant that the £1.7m budget for disabled children would need to be used for more children, with each family allocated cash to pay for activities according to a point-scoring system.
But, while the council said these changes would not affect residential short breaks, parents claim they have been left “devastated” by the drastic cuts in the number of hours respite they have been allocated.
