Family fears at care home cut

Sandra Pyner, 63, from Toddington, looks after her 40-year-old son Stephen Lancely who has special needs.

He visits the Calverton Road respite care home two or three times a week to give his mother a break from caring for him.

Full-time carer Sandra said: “There are 21 families that go there and I don’t know what anyone is going to do.”

According to Sandra, the families have not yet received letters from Luton Borough Council (LBC) informing them of the closure, but heard from the care home staff who were told it would shut at the end of March.

Sandra said: “I was most shocked as it’s a valuable service for us. I rely on it, it’s the only chance I get to have a break from looking after Stephen. The staff there are excellent, they are really dedicated and they are totally devastated the home will close. Everyone is up in arms, the staff are worried about their jobs and it’s worrying for the parents.

“I know cuts need to be made but we can’t lose services for those with special needs.”

Stephen has Asperger’s Syndrome and Downs Syndrome and his mother is not able to wash him at home because she needs the house to be adapted, so he relies on his visits to Calverton Road for bathing.

LBC is currently running a consultation on the future of respite services for adults with learning disabilities.

A Council spokesperson said the review comes in response to current respite services being unable to meet the needs of all service users, particularly those with complex needs.

The Council said it wants to ensure that service users have more choice and flexibility in relation to the short break services they offer.

People with learning disabilities and their carers are being asked for their views about how respite services should be provided during the consultation which closes on February 22. The spokesperson confirmed that Calverton Road, which is managed by Affinity Trust and funded by the Council and Central Bedofrdshire Council, will shut on March 31.

The Council spokesperson said: “We have written to the nine families in Luton who use the service and will be affected by its closure on March 31, explaining we will be working with them on an individual basis to discuss alternative options and encouraging them to participate in the current consultation.”