Vulnerable residents in parts of rural Stirling were left sweating over vital social care provisions this week after being informed that they were to be removed.
Villagers in Killin were told they were to be left without social care provision after carers in the area who offered essential services, including helping patients with daily tasks, such as dressing and bathing.
Then days later they were told care services would be reinstated.
One Killin couple raised concerns after being informed of the development by Stirling Council officials on Tuesday.
Myra Dunn, 91, requires daily help from carers after she suffered a heart attack around two years ago.
Carers from Cera Care, who offered care services on behalf of the council, attended at Mrs Dunn’s home every morning and evening.
However, yesterday (Thursday), as the Observer was going to print, Mrs Dunn had been informed that her care provision was to be reinstated and provided directly by the council.
Mr Dunn, 75, said that the initial decision heaped stress on the couple, whose family mostly reside in the Portsmouth area.
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He said: “We’ve had carers for the past two years for my wife. She had a heart attack and nearly died just over two years ago and ever since we have been looking after her at home and Stirling Council provided us with carers initially and we were getting them every morning and every evening.
“Morning visits included being able to give a shower, wash her, dress her and things like that and the evening visits would be just chat to make sure we were ok.
“Things started deteriorating about a year ago, they couldn’t provide morning care and sometimes any weekend care.
“What they have done now is, two representatives for Stirling Council were up this week to tell us that the company that the contractor, Cera Care, will no longer provide care for Killin.
“They came up and said ‘we no longer provide care’. They said that they can’t do anything, they just said there will be no care in the foreseeable future because they are tied up with red tape and contracts.
“It’s an absolute nonsense. It’s not only the stress of it all, but I have health issues of my own. If anything happens to me, there will be nothing for my wife. We have to rely on friends and neighbours.”
Mr and Mrs Dunn praised the help of the local community in the face of the challenging situation.
Mr Dunn added: “This village is fabulous. The people have rallied round. The minister’s wife has been outstanding. She came up and looked after my wife for a whole weekend whilst I went and had an angiogram.”
Commenting on the current situation over social care in Killin, a spokesperson for the Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership said: “We’re aware of the workforce capacity issues the local provider is experiencing in the area. These pressures are not unique to Killin and are being faced in the care sector across the country.
“We are actively working with the provider, families and the local community to ensure people are safe and have the care they need.”
A spokesperson for Cera Care told the Observer: “We’re committed to providing care across Scotland, including in rural areas that other providers are unable to reach.
“We’re continuing to work with local authorities to ensure that service users in the Killin area receive the high-quality care they need.”
Trossachs and Teith ward councillor Martin Earl has been contacted by a number of concerned constituents over the situation. He said: “Providing the care that people need in Killin and other rural locations has been a problem for many months. I’m fed up hearing of problems that keep repeating themselves.”
