TRISHA Smethurst and Pam Coles have been looking for another home for their 88-year-old mum since Devon County Council announced the closure of 20 of its 22 care homes in June.
Their mum has lived in Exmouth her whole life but now faces relocating. To where, her family do not know yet.
She has lived at Davey Court for just under two years and is one of around 18 residents remaining at the home, which specialises in complex dementia care, still looking for another place to live ahead of its proposed early summer next year.
She receives a statutory £428 a week from the council and from her pension she is able to contribute £507 a month.
But with many care home fees starting at £550 to as much as £1,600 a week, the council's standard rate for a council funded placement is, in the vast majority of cases, well below the asking price at a private care home.
It is no secret that privately-run residential homes could not survive on council funded residents.
The manager of one Exmouth residential home who asked for her identity to be protected, said there was a shortfall between council funding and care home fees which had created a "crisis" situation.
"Families are placed in a dilemma," she explained. "There are lots of care homes out there but they all have different standards – we reinvest fees in maintaining our home to be a beautiful and homely place, but not all places will see that as a priority."
Pam has years of experience in the care sector, working at Davey Court for 20 years, 12 of them as assistant manager.
She and Trisha said they have exhausted options of care in Exmouth – either the homes do not cater for people suffering such complex dementia, or they are too expensive.
"We're priced out of the majority of homes," says Trisha.
"Davey Court is simple and old fashioned, but there is a lot of love and care there, and that is what is important.
"There is no way we can afford the price that most are asking, even with the council funding."
Pam said: "We've been to some places and as soon as you explain the level of dementia our mum has, including that she wanders, they say they can't help."
The sisters are also concerned how their mum would fare in a large care home, which is often regarded as more viable by larger care home providers, as she has trouble remembering where to go.
Davey Court residential home for the elderly was one of 10 homes designated to become Centres of Excellence for the care of people with dementia
But the council made a U-turn decision just months before announcing its closure – a devastating blow to the families affected.
The sisters have nothing but praise for the staff and care at Davey Court, where it is a like "one big family", and say the level of expertise to cope with complex dementia is very high and they are worried they won't be able to find the level of care their mum needs in the area.
So they are also concerned their mum may have to move several miles away meaning the amount of times they can visit is reduced.
But primarily, they are worried about the impact moving homes will have on their mum explaining that it is important for people suffering from dementia to have stability and familiarity.
"We initially felt angry at the council, because they built everyone's hopes up and then let everyone down," continues Pam.
"Surely there must have been something else they could have done to save money instead of taking people's homes away?
"We then started feeling immense worry as to where she is going to end up."
Pam and Trisha say the council has been very supportive however and kept them informed.
And although it is up to the resident's next-of-kin to find alternative homes, the council will then take over and negotiate costs. "It's very difficult," adds Pam. "Sometimes you sit there thinking about it all and you get very upset."Victims of £110m council cuts
IN June, the council announced its decision to shut 20 of its 22 care homes in a bid to make budget reductions of £110m from its expenditure by 2017 – £28m in this financial year.
The council has now placed 100 of its 260 elderly residents including some at Davey Court in Exmouth, Green Close in Sidmouth and Arthur Roberts in Exeter, who have been trying to find alternative homes.
But many council funded residents cannot afford the fees the majority of homes charge.
And as previously reported by the Echo, the families of some residents at Davey Court, which specialises in dementia care, are finding it hard to find other homes which have the equivalent level of expertise to look after their loved ones.
There are around 2,000 people who are currently eligible for Devon County Council funded places and receive the standard rate of £428 a week.
There is also an enhanced rate of £459 for people with more complex needs which are paid directly to the home.
But it costs the majority of care homes far more than this to care for a resident each week.
A council spokesperson confirmed that in some cases an individual or their relatives may prefer to "top up" these fees to secure a place in a care home in a premium location or with enhanced amenities.
But in all cases, the council's rates will always fund the cost of care.
The spokesperson confirmed that the authority uses a personal brokerage e-tendering system whereby councils can circulate a care package needed for an individual and care suppliers can then bid for the contract for them with an offer and a price. Individuals can then choose the one best suited to them.
The authority had temporarily paused the process of homes closure due to a legal challenge of its decision, brought by Maureen Beauchamp, the daughter of a resident at the county council's Oakwell home in Bickington, Barnstaple.It is understood the legal challenge has been discontinued.
The spokesperson, said: "The number of residents at county council homes has already fallen from 260 to less than 160 as people have been supported to find alternative accommodation.
"There are many success stories of people being kept together or being very happy with their new accommodation and being nearer relatives.
"Although we have actually temporarily paused the process of homes closure due to a legal challenge, a steady stream of residents are continuing to voluntarily opt to move and are being fully supported to do so.
"I understand that independent home owners will argue that greater funding is needed but the supply of good quality alternative independent sector accommodation has not been an issue in this process.
"Indeed, many independent provider groups have stated very clearly that they are very pleased that we are withdrawing from having our own provision as they have long argued that we paid ourselves more than we pay private sector and therefore distorted the market and took trade away from them."
