A 98-year-old widow living with dementia has been forcibly evicted from her care home after spending her entire life savings of £240,000 on fees.
The Sudden Eviction
Brenda Miles was given a mere 48 hours' notice to leave Innage Grange care home in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, where she had lived for five years. The former book-binder, who requires constant supervision due to her dementia and mobility issues, had to vacate the premises after her funds were completely exhausted.
Brenda moved into the home in 2020, two years after the death of her husband, Gordon. The couple's financial resources, which included the proceeds from selling their two-bedroom bungalow, totalled approximately £240,000. This was used to pay for her care, which cost around £4,000 per month, or £48,000 annually.
Financial Depletion and Council Refusal
Her savings eventually fell below the £23,000 threshold, at which point individuals become eligible for government financial assistance. Her family approached Shropshire Council, seeking support to allow Brenda to remain at Innage Grange for her final years.
However, the council refused the request. Authorities stated that the care costs at her existing home exceeded what the council could reasonably subsidise and insisted she be moved to more affordable accommodation.
On 31 October, Brenda was relocated to Hilton Brook House, also in Bridgnorth, where fees are approximately £2,400 per month.
Family Outrage and Unsuitable Conditions
Brenda's niece, Victoria Fellows, 41, has strongly criticised the council's actions. She alleges they are 'dumping' her elderly aunt and described the entire situation as 'plain wrong'.
'How can you put a 98-year-old through so much upheaval?' Victoria questioned. 'I was told when she was dropped off at the new home she asked 'where are all my friends?'. It's just heartbreaking.'
Victoria, who lives on the Isle of Wight and works in data annotation, also revealed that the new room is not an ensuite, which is highly inconvenient for a 98-year-old with dementia. She stated that while the staff at the new home are nice, the upheaval has been profoundly distressing for her aunt, who was settled and happy at Innage Grange.
The family even contacted South Shropshire MP Stuart Anderson in an attempt to get the council to review its decision, but their efforts were unsuccessful. A representative for Shropshire Council declined to comment on individual cases.
