Tag Archives: health
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.
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.
Dementia friends in Norwich come together to help raise awareness
Dementia Friends gather at The Forum in Norwich for National Dementia Week.
Picture : ANTONY KELLY
More than 100 people who have trained to better understand dementia gathered on the steps outside The Forum in Norwich to show their commitment to making the city dementia-friendly.
Since January, businesses and organisations around the county have been working hard to ensure they are dementia friendly, training their staff to better understand the illness which is set to rise in prevalence by 35pc in Norfolk over the next eight years.
There are now more than 40 members taking part in the bid – among them EDP and Evening News publisher Archant – all pledging support and specific objectives pledges.
Susan Ringwood, chief executive of Age UK Norwich, said: “It’s about us all thinking and understanding more about dementia.”
In Norfolk, some 14,000 people have dementia, but experts believe the figure will rise to 19,000 by 2025.
