Poet’s Corner

WHERE IS THE CARE

14-01-2008

Pensioners in Sandwell are fighting plans to close five residential care homes. Kingsbury House in Wednesbury is causing a particular stink because it has a memorial garden with scattered ashes on its site. Brendan Hawthorne asks where is the care?

Where is the care

in moving the elderly out

from their care-home communities?

Places where residents are

united in interests

under one roof

Where they are safe

looked after

and protected with

all needs catered for

A place

to share memories

understand each other

support each other in

the home that takes pressure

away from relatives

and allows families

to enjoy their remaining

quality time

without the trauma

and worry of mom or dad

gran or grandfather

just getting by

by themselves

Where is the care

in letting caring

professional staff

face the dole queue

in some book-balancing exercise

that’s all dressed up

in the name of

modernisation?

Care homes

are to be replaced by

warden-patrolled accommodation

instead of the continuous attention

our vulnerable elderly people deserve

and require

Instead they’re being sent

out of security

and into obscurity

Where money saved

through competitive tendering

can be poured

deep into the throat of The Public

and other wasted opportunistic fiascos

Into consultation fees

Into experts say politicians

Because care for the elderly

is under attack

No matter how you wrap it

No matter how you say it

Because care for the elderly

it’s feared

is into the red and out of the black

and local government service spending

is marching ever on

to the wisdom of the auditor’s tune

and the unflinching

opt out

or cop out

philosophy of accountancy

And just tell me

where is the care in that?

Copyright Brendan Hawthorne 2008