A 98-year-old widow suffering from dementia has been evicted after spending her £240,000 life savings on care bills and has now run out of money.
Brenda Miles was given just two days’ notice to leave Innage Grange care home in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, where she has lived for five years.
The retired bookbinder, who struggles with mobility issues and needs constant care, moved into Innage Grange in 2020 following the death of her husband Gordon in 2018.
The sale of their two-bedroom bungalow in Bridgnorth, along with her savings, amounted to about £240,000. She used this money to cover care bills of about £4,000 per month – equivalent to £48,000 yearly.
However, Brenda, who marked her 98th birthday with a tea party at her home in August, is now running low on funds and can’t afford the care costs.
Her savings have dropped below the £23,000 threshold where state assistance can be requested.
To enable her to spend her last days in Innage Grange, the family applied for financial assistance from Shropshire Council. However, authorities refused, insisting that she relocate to a less expensive residence and claiming that the care expenses are too high for the council to pay.
On October 31, the council relocated her to Hilton Brook House in Bridgnorth, which charges about £2,400 per month. Brenda’s niece, Victoria Fellows, has criticised the council, accusing them of “dumping” her aunt.
Victoria, a 41-year-old Isle of Wight resident, voiced her disappointment: “The whole situation is just plain wrong. How can you put a 98-year-old through so much upheaval?
“I was told when she was dropped off at the new home, she asked, ‘Where are all my friends?’ It’s just heartbreaking. They didn’t even move all her belongings into Hilton Brook House. She still has pictures on the wall back in her old room.”
Brenda was forced to leave the home she loved and the staff she loved when her savings dropped below the £23,000 threshold for self-funded care.
Victoria, who has been managing her aunt’s care with her cousins, revealed: “I contacted the council in July and they said at the end of September that they wouldn’t be covering the costs.
“They gave us two weeks to act and then two days’ notice. It is not as if Shropshire Council will be paying her rent for 40 years – she is 98. It’s disgusting that they’d treat a 98-year-old woman like that. As far as I can tell, they sent a taxi, picked up an old lady and dumped her.”
In an attempt to persuade the council to carry out a review, the family contacted Stuart Anderson, the MP for South Shropshire, but their attempts were fruitless.
According to Victoria, who works in data annotation, Brenda’s aunt’s requirements are not being met by the care facility where she currently stays.
She explained: “The room isn’t an ensuite, which is hardly handy for a 98-year-old with dementia. She’s mobile with her walking frame, but she’s not sprightly.
“My other cousin has been inside and says the staff are very nice, but my aunt was really settled at Innage Grange. The upheaval of moving for her is very upsetting for someone who has always worked and lived her whole life; to be treated like this is just not right.
“Other than her named social worker, I’ve heard nothing from anyone higher up. No apology, no real explanation.”
This lady is a widow. She is 98 years old – she’s not going to be around for much longer, and this should not have been allowed to happen, especially to a dementia patient. These care homes are money-grabbing leeches and totally heartless, but then this is a prime example of how British hardworking law-abiding citizens are treated these days in the UK.
Sadly, once you reach a certain age and you cannot work anymore, you are of no use to anybody, and you are treated like you are a burden to society – don’t talk too soon – next our government will be euthanising our elderly to save money, but we shouldn’t be giving Rachel Reeves any ideas.
Our government call it austerity, but they are actually punishing the poor for the crimes of the rich.
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 