Lilian Greenwood MP visited the Silverdale dementia home on 9 October and heard its owners warn that care funding is falling behind the true cost of care.
The owners of Wilford View, a specialist dementia care home in Silverdale, have told Nottingham South MP Lilian Greenwood that the money paid for care is not keeping up with what it costs to provide.
She visited the home on Brookthorpe Way on Friday 9 October. She met residents and staff, and heard from the operator, Fortava Healthcare, about care fees and the national social care budget.
Wilford View is at 1A Brookthorpe Way, NG11 7FB, in the city’s Clifton West ward. That is a little under two miles south-west of West Bridgford town centre.
“A growing gap”
Fortava says the fees it receives do not reflect the skilled staff, specialist training and resources needed to care for people living with complex dementia.
Jamie Stuart, the company’s chief financial officer and co-founder, made the case directly:
“There is a growing gap between the cost of delivering high-quality, specialist care and the funding available to provide it. If we want a sustainable social care system that attracts and retains skilled people and gives residents the care they deserve, funding has to reflect the true cost of provision. It was valuable to have the opportunity to discuss that openly with Lilian.”
Fortava did not say what fees it currently receives, or what it believes the true cost of a place to be.
A handmade welcome
Residents had made a colourful handmade bouquet to welcome the MP. She spent time with them and with staff, seeing the support the home gives people living with dementia and complex care needs.
Johann van Zyl, Fortava’s chief executive and co-founder, said:
“Welcoming Lilian to Wilford View was a valuable opportunity to show what specialist dementia care looks like in practice, and to introduce her to the people at the heart of everything we do.
“Our colleagues work incredibly hard to provide care that goes beyond meeting clinical needs. We believe dementia does not erase a person’s identity, abilities or need for purpose and meaningful relationships.”
The company says its approach treats behaviour as a form of communication. Staff work from each resident’s own history, preferences and abilities.
About the home
- Wilford View is one of five specialist dementia homes run by Fortava Healthcare.
- The others are in Nottinghamshire and Peterborough, where the company has its head office.
- Fortava describes them as “specialist dementia centres of excellence”.
What it means for you
If you have a relative who needs dementia care, cost is likely to be one of the biggest questions. Fortava has now put its case on fees to the local MP directly, and says it was glad to discuss it “openly”. Neither the company nor Ms Greenwood’s office has said what happens next.
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