Future care for the Blesma elderly

The nature of demand for later life care has changed greatly in the last decade; residential care is occurring very late in life and people wish to be close to their families.

The demand for residence at the Blackpool Home has fallen sharply as the World War Two generation sadly passes away.  The Home hosted 30 residents in 2014, this year it has hosted only 13 Members and Widows despite opening the doors to Widows last year.  9 residents are from the North West; 30 miles radius is the recognised catchment area for a care home.  The Home has bedrooms for 45 residents so it is running at under 25% of capacity.  The demographics of the Blesma membership and national statistics combine to forecast this downward trend will continue.      

Meanwhile, the demand for individual assistance of another nature, closer to families and often in their own homes, with some independence, is increasing.

Blesma wishes to adjust to meet the modern needs of its membership as a whole, not just those living in the North West.

We have considered the needs of our members overall and the changing qualities and quantities of demand for assistance in later life care. Looking forward, we will be making more grants available to assist the individual care needs of Members and Widows in their own homes and in care elsewhere, meeting the modern expectation.  Ultimately we believe what we will offer will be more relevant, fairer, efficient, and sustainable - for all of our Members.  We will collaborate with other Service charities who are expert in the provision of residential and convalescent or respite care.   

In 2015 Blesma expended £374,000 on 1159 grants.  64% of the recipients (735 Members and Widows) were aged over 75 and the grants aimed at the promotion of independent living, providing much appreciated practical help, including assistive and adaptive technology.  In the same year Blesma subsidised the Home by £694,000.  The intention now is to use these combined resources over time, to be increasingly more relevant and also more precise, in meeting real needs. 

Some Members are the most infirm at a young age and the Association is keen that there is provision for their care at a high standard in decades to come. We are aiming to have funds to enable this provision in the future, but not at the expense of our elderly Members and Widows who need support for care now.

The Blesma Board of Trustees is composed in the majority of Blesma Members, veteran amputees.  They are elected by Members and naturally represent the concerns and interests of Members and the Association.  The Board have deliberated upon the future of the Blackpool Home for the past 18 months and taken external professional advice to explore all realistic options.  These options have included relocation, collaboration with other Service charities, specialist nursing and opening the Home to all veterans.  The Board are conscious that Blesma has run a nursing home since 1949 and that in the years since many Members have enjoyed the benefits.  However, the demand for residential care at a single Blesma Home continues to decline.  The Board have therefore taken the decision, an extremely difficult decision, to release the Blackpool Home. 

The current residents are being resettled to new homes of their choice in consultation with families and guardians.  Continued high quality of care is paramount and the residents will experience no financial hardship.  Blesma is committed to their care for life.  Blesma Support Officers and the Association will of course continue to be there for them; they remain Blesma Members. 

The staff at the Blackpool Home have in some cases given many years of loyal service and Blesma is tremendously grateful.  There has been a formal period of consultation and professional coaching for their transition to new employment has been provided.  Blesma will meet all statutory requirements for redundancy settlement.