Ruthy 'devastated' by care home (From Western Telegraph)

Ruthy 'devastated' by care home

A mother's dying wish is in jeopardy after a change in care arrangements at a local residential home.

Rose Morris' last wish was that her daughter, Ruth, who has Down's syndrome, remained in the care of Honeyhomes in Haverfordwest.

However following a re-tendering process, a care company from Cardiff has been awarded most of the local contracts by social services, so Ruth may be taken away from care staff she has known for the last five years.

Ruth's mother died last year after battling a terminal illness, but before she died she stressed the importance of Ruth remaining with people that she trusts.

Ruth's aunt Mary Chapman is very distressed at the likely changes and the lack of consultation over the changes to her niece's carers.

She said: "This has been like a bolt out of the blue. You would have thought that you would be consulted. It has taken over my life since I found out that Ruthy may be moved. She has Down's syndrome and has problems with communication and with trusting people.

"She treats her carers like her family and cannot handle change very well at all. It was so important to my sister that Ruth remained at Honeyhomes. This is going to absolutely devastate her life."

Opportunity Housing Trust has taken over contracts for four care homes that deal with vulnerable adults in Pembrokeshire - Haul-y-Bryn, Mencap Cymru, Honeyhomes and Elliots Hill Care.

Peter Irvine from Pembrokeshire Adovacy, which has taken up the fight on behalf of residents and staff said: "We have submitted a formal complaint asking for a stay of execution, but we still have had no response. We have also requested a meeting but have had no response to that either. The whole process has been handled very badly with no consultation, but on top of this the way they are handling the concerns is appalling."