Tag Archives: disability
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.
‘I book home care for my mum online’
Louisa and her mum, Peggy, book home care using an online service
Louisa Bravery’s mum, Peggy, lives in the family home and loves everyday life with her grandchildren.
But she needs a little personal care when other members of the family are out at school or work.
Louisa wasn’t sure where to turn to organise things but discovered she could book her mother’s care using an online service.
That makes it easy to plan care flexibly depending on when Peggy might be alone at home.
“I just log in via the internet using my phone and just select the number of hours and the day and the time I want the carer to come. It’s really quick and also the payment’s all done online,” Louisa says.
The service is provided by CERA, the brainchild of Dr Ben Maruthappu, who formerly had a senior policymaking role at NHS England.
Carers group has successful run helping people in the fight against isolation
Extreme isolation and loneliness, which saw a woman from north Norfolk house-bound for three weeks at a time, was the inspiration behind a successful carers support group in Wells.
Juanita Spencer, of Theatre Road, cared for her husband Jack for more than a decade, after he developed dementia and survived a number of strokes, before he died in January 2011.
During that time, the 78-year-old said she had felt extremely isolated, especially during the first few years.
