Home / Health / Dementia Club Closure Leaves Families Devastated
Dementia Club Closure Leaves Families Devastated
11 Oct
Summary
- Charity premises closing end of month due to low attendance.
- Family fears impact on wellbeing and caregiver burden.
- Merger led to review of the centre's ongoing viability.
Age UK West Sussex, Brighton and Hove will close its dementia services premises at the Glen Vue Centre in East Grinstead at the end of October. The charity cited low daily attendance and escalating operational costs as reasons for the closure.
This decision deeply affects families, including Oliver Tully's, whose 88-year-old father relied on the dementia club three days a week. Tully expressed concerns about the profound impact on his father's quality of life and the increased burden on family caregivers who also maintain full-time employment.
The closure follows a merger between Age UK East Grinstead and District and Age UK West Sussex, Brighton and Hove. A plan to shut the centre was reportedly under review before the merger, with the combined organization's trustees later approving the closure as a necessary step.
Age UK confirmed that individuals utilizing the dementia service have been notified. The organization plans to transition to a community-focused approach to continue offering support.
