Old People's Day Centres, what do they look like Options

[Simon Kirby]

I'd like to understand better what we're talking about when we talk about old people's day centres: what need they fulfil, where they need to be, what facilities they need to have, who gets to use them, and how much they can pay for the benefit.

So I'm guessing that an old people's day centre is like the lounge of an old people's home but the users aren't residents, they pop in for the day from home to socialise. Is that the deal?

Can I ask please, who currently qualifies for the WBC day-centres, and what money is it they're going to be getting to provide their own service?

How many people use these facilities?

[NWNREADER]

I'd like to understand better what we're talking about when we talk about old people's day centres: what need they fulfil, where they need to be, what facilities they need to have, who gets to use them, and how much they can pay for the benefit.

So I'm guessing that an old people's day centre is like the lounge of an old people's home but the users aren't residents, they pop in for the day from home to socialise. Is that the deal?

Can I ask please, who currently qualifies for the WBC day-centres, and what money is it they're going to be getting to provide their own service?

How many people use these facilities?

Just about everything you seek is available on the WBC website

[Andy Capp]

I'd like to understand better what we're talking about when we talk about old people's day centres: what need they fulfil, where they need to be, what facilities they need to have, who gets to use them, and how much they can pay for the benefit.

So I'm guessing that an old people's day centre is like the lounge of an old people's home but the users aren't residents, they pop in for the day from home to socialise. Is that the deal?

Can I ask please, who currently qualifies for the WBC day-centres, and what money is it they're going to be getting to provide their own service?

How many people use these facilities?

Having a quick look, I'd say:

It seems there is a charge to the end user, but I didn't read how much (it seems to be PoA). One has to fulfil criteria to get a place, but it seems there might be a waiting list. They seem to accommodate ~10/12 people a day, for three or four days a week. The buildings can be used on other days of the week for other purposes.

The day centres seem to be like a youth club, but for the elderly.

http://www.westberks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1303

[Richard Garvie]

Ormonde Centre: http://www.diwb.org/directory/view.php?ele...05b6952d0bea5de

Phoenix Centre (also facing big cuts / "reshaping"): http://www.westberks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=693

Hill Croft House: http://www.westberks.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=241&p=0

The genuine misconception is these centres are only used by the elderly.

[panda]

Ormonde Centre: http://www.diwb.org/directory/view.php?ele...05b6952d0bea5de

Phoenix Centre (also facing big cuts / "reshaping"): http://www.westberks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=693

Hill Croft House: http://www.westberks.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=241&p=0

The genuine misconception is these centres are only used by the elderly.

Maybe someone wants one for an allotment

[Simon Kirby]

Ormonde Centre: http://www.diwb.org/directory/view.php?ele...05b6952d0bea5de

Phoenix Centre (also facing big cuts / "reshaping"): http://www.westberks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=693

Hill Croft House: http://www.westberks.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=241&p=0

The genuine misconception is these centres are only used by the elderly.

I'm thinking specifically about old people's day centres, not facilities for people with physical disabilities and mental health problems.

[Simon Kirby]

I've looked at the info on the WBC site and I'm none the wiser about what it is these day centres do. I too have in mind something like a youth centre, but it's clearly more than that as you need to be referred, though the site gives no indication of what you might be referred for.

And it doesn't say how much it costs, and I can't find any infor on how much the service users are being given to fund alternative services. I'd also like to know what benefit this is - I'm guessing WBC can't just give out cash willy-nilly.

Can anyone say what these centres do, how you qualify for their services, and how much the service users will get to provide an alternative service for themselves?

I was interested in having a general discussion about elderly care and social integration but I'd like to understand a bit more about these day centres first.

[NWNREADER]

I've looked at the info on the WBC site and I'm none the wiser about what it is these day centres do. I too have in mind something like a youth centre, but it's clearly more than that as you need to be referred, though the site gives no indication of what you might be referred for.

And it doesn't say how much it costs, and I can't find any infor on how much the service users are being given to fund alternative services. I'd also like to know what benefit this is - I'm guessing WBC can't just give out cash willy-nilly.

Can anyone say what these centres do, how you qualify for their services, and how much the service users will get to provide an alternative service for themselves?

I was interested in having a general discussion about elderly care and social integration but I'd like to understand a bit more about these day centres first.

What the centres do varies, day to day and site to site. Partly because they serve the local need, and part to enable members to benefit as much as possible. The staff at the Council-run ones work in partnership with GPs and other health care specialists, plus the families, to provide social activities - even if that is hardly more than being out of the house and with other people, and some stimulation. Rather hard to define 'what they do' in terms of specific activity, as it is more subtle than that.
You 'qualify' by referral - likely to benefit from what is on offer.
The cost is just a couple of £ a day, including a lunch and transport.
All members are being offered 1-2-1 guidance on the future, including assessment of the money they will be given to 'buy in' their alternative activities. Families are included in the consultation, and there is a lot of info on the WBC website.

It is not appropriate, in my view, for people to seek to visit the centres to look at them. Some of the members are not very well and really do not want to be looked at. Some of the sessions are quite vibrant, others are less enchanting.

To be honest, the charges are so low I suspect some members make a saving by being at a session as opposed to being at home to prepare a meal they have bought. Everyone has their own experience and perspective, but some members could pay more. But that is history.

[Richard Garvie]

Simon, the Ormonde Centre and Hillcroft House are part of the five centres closing. The Phoenix Centre is to undergo major "reshaping". If I'm honest, it is those three that are my main concern.

[NWNREADER]

Simon, the Ormonde Centre and Hillcroft House are part of the five centres closing. The Phoenix Centre is to undergo major "reshaping". If I'm honest, it is those three that are my main concern.

Then perhaps you should answer his questions.....

[Jayjay]

[

[Jayjay]

I'm thinking specifically about old people's day centres, not facilities for people with physical disabilities and mental health problems.

Fairclose On Newtown Row. Provides day care from l0am to 4pm every weekday to members. Lunch is available and a variety of activities. There is a hairdresser and a nearly new shop. Day outings are arranged in the summer months and there are occasional opportunities to join staff and members for holidays. I believe Age Concern visits regularly to give advice. The dining room can be hired out for meetings. There are flats/rooms and alms houses located on the site.

[Richard Garvie]

So I'm guessing that an old people's day centre is like the lounge of an old people's home but the users aren't residents, they pop in for the day from home to socialise. Is that the deal?

Can I ask please, who currently qualifies for the WBC day-centres, and what money is it they're going to be getting to provide their own service?

How many people use these facilities?

1. Not neccessarily, there are some stand alone centres.
2. Personal Budgets will be paid out to the person after personal assessment, with your assessment deciding how much you get. As it is now, the specialist day centres provide for certain needs.
3. I will request total useage from the council but it does vary from centre to centre. The smallest centre that is closing has a capacity of ten per day I believe.

Don't get me wrong, I'll support any workable plan that the council come up with. But they have made these decisions without any real consultation and as a result, the council are not providing any substantial alternative for those who wish to use these facilities.

What the council could have done is replace the Ormond Centre and Hillcroft House with a purpose built facility at West Berks Community Hospital, with three elderly day car facilities (one in the West, one in the Central area and one in the east) and retain the Phoenix Centre. A good community transport scheme operated by volunteers would get people to and from the centres. We would end up with six centres in total, but the end cost to the user would be cheaper and the council would still make some savings. Those who want to use centres could continue using them with their personal budgets, but those who didn't wouldn't have too. At least there would be suitable capacity and people wouldn't be excluded.

I'm not saying it is easy to run the council, but this is why consultations should be carried out effectively, not half hearted or not at all. These decisions were taken for financial reasons, and that goes against what the Conservative / Lib Dem Government has said they should do. I never usually agree with Pickles or Cameron, but I do with regards to Councils protecting key services.

[NWNREADER]

What the council could have done is replace the Ormond Centre and Hillcroft House with a purpose built facility at West Berks Community Hospital, with three elderly day car facilities (one in the West, one in the Central area and one in the east) and retain the Phoenix Centre. A good community transport scheme operated by volunteers would get people to and from the centres. We would end up with six centres in total, but the end cost to the user would be cheaper and the council would still make some savings. Those who want to use centres could continue using them with their personal budgets, but those who didn't wouldn't have too. At least there would be suitable capacity and people wouldn't be excluded.

Is that a wish list, or a costed and funded proposal?

[Andy Capp]

Is that a wish list, or a costed and funded proposal?

Or a suggestion?

[Richard Garvie]

It's neither a wish list or a fully costed plan. But there is demand for elderly day centres in all parts of the district. By centralising care to three centres and providing decent community transport, users of these facilities would not be worse off.

There is a demand for specialist care facilities such as the Ormonde Centre, Phoenix Centre and Hillcroft House. As long as we can retain the actual groups and services and clients are not having services withdrawn, nobody loses out there either.

The Government have said that frontline services should be the last thing cut, but if this is a case of there isn't anything else to save money on, we are doomed!!!

[NWNREADER]

Or a suggestion?

Given your stated desires, I wonder if you are wise to float attractive but untested suggestions.

We could all make such suggestions - all roads to be re-surfaced every 10 years, all Council buildings to have solar panels, all Council vehicles to be A Grade for VED and so on. Achievable?

[Richard Garvie]

Given your stated desires, I wonder if you are wise to float attractive but untested suggestions.

We could all make such suggestions - all roads to be re-surfaced every 10 years, all Council buildings to have solar panels, all Council vehicles to be A Grade for VED and so on. Achievable?

Look, if the current proposals go through, dare care provision in West Berkshire will be decimated and I doubt it will ever fully recover. With just short of a further £3m worth of cuts to Adult Social Care next year, will the other four centre be closing too? £5.1m of cuts to ASC services in two years. SHAMEFULL.

[Andy Capp]

Given your stated desires, I wonder if you are wise to float attractive but untested suggestions.

We could all make such suggestions - all roads to be re-surfaced every 10 years, all Council buildings to have solar panels, all Council vehicles to be A Grade for VED and so on. Achievable?

That is utterly besides the point. I see nothing wrong with suggestions, do you?

[NWNREADER]

That is utterly besides the point. I see nothing wrong with suggestions, do you?

Richard has aspirations. If he is makes wild suggestions as to what should/could be done he will have a torrid time, if he succeeds, explaining why he is not delivering them.

Suggesting the impossible is ok, I suppose, but not productive. If doubt is cast on a suggestion then the evidence to support viability should be presented, or a graceful 'it was only a suggestion'.