Council staunchly defends care for elderly after two deaths at Luton sheltered accommodation

Family members say those living at Quantock Close are being “forgotten about” during the crisis, with housing officers working remotely and away at weekends.

One woman told Luton Today that on-site wardens had been phased out and replaced with sheltered housing support officers due to budget cuts.

She said: “The housing officers are all working from home, there’s no contact with residents at such a critical time.

"They receive a phone call in the morning to check they are ok - basically to see if they are alive.

"I just feel they are being forgotten about.

"The council should be going above and beyond to carry out their duty of care. I'm concerned they are not receiving calls at weekends.

"There’s one lady who is 99, another who has terminal cancer. They are okay, but the housing officers should be checking with each individual.

"On the Tuesday after the Easter Bank Holiday, they couldn’t get hold of a resident. He was dead, possibly in his flat for days.

"On Monday (April 20) a resident was found dead on the floor and had possibly been there all weekend.

"This chap had no family, no one helping him while he was living with dementia..."

But in response to these complaints, the council has issued a strong rebuttal.

A Luton Borough Council spokesman said: "The council’s number one concern for those in sheltered housing is their safety and welfare and we are surprised this has been brought into question.

"We strongly refute the accusation that the council is providing virtually no care. Sheltered housing provides the opportunity for individuals to live as independently as possible in their own homes and does not set out to provide the same level of care that might be expected in residential or nursing homes.

"We have adapted our services for those in sheltered accommodation that puts their safety as the number one priority.

"Upon the introduction of the current situation we immediately contacted all residents to ascertain if they would like regular phone calls, on a daily basis if required, to monitor their well-being and reassure them and their families.

"In addition, we reminded them that we could be contacted at any time should they need assistance. Further to this we have also been writing fortnightly letters advising residents of the latest government guidelines.

"The council has also introduced new measures including locking all communal areas and encouraging residents to adhere to the government’s social distancing guidelines, clear instructions to supporting family members regarding the need to wash hands upon entering and leaving their relatives’ homes, a rota for residents to use the laundry facilities in isolation from others and waste collections outside individual front doors if wanted.

"At the same time, we have been in frequent contact with Public Health England which has been complimentary of the measures we have put in place, which makes the makes the negative comments made, particularly surprising."