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'It's an essential part of my life': Funding fears over elderly care service

Jessica BowenBBC Scotland
News imageBBC Pensioner Mary is at a table where others are colouring in with felt-tip pens. She has grey hair and is wearing a pink jumper. She is smiling at the camera and is sitting with others who are also colouring in with felt tip pens. BBC
Mary attends day service at CACE every Monday and Friday, and says it's what keeps her going

After losing her daughter a few years ago, Mary found her days stretching ahead of her, long and silent.

The 89-year-old lives alone - and although her son visits at weekends - much of her time is spent by herself in the house.

Twice a week she is collected from her front door and brought to CACE (Cumbernauld Action for Care of the Elderly) for breakfast, a hot lunch, activities and conversation with people her own age.

"I know everybody in here," she says. "I've been coming a long time. It's an essential part of my life."

News imageCACE A group of elderly people with walking aids, standing at a zoo entrance with life-size models of giraffes behind them as well as large photographs of a bear and a lizardCACE
CACE regularly take service users out to visit places such as the zoo and the Kelpies

CACE has been operating for more than 30 years.

It supports up to 85 people each week, offering door-to-door transport, hot meals, outings and group activities aimed at tackling loneliness and maintaining independence.

But like many other volunteer organisations it relies on funding from the public and the local authority.

North Lanarkshire Council last year provided about £135,000 in direct support - approximately 35% of CACE's annual budget.

It has now said that, from April, it will no longer get the funding but can apply for other volunteer funds.

It said a review had identified significant duplication with existing council-operated and commissioned services.

However, CACE staff argue that its model offers a level of care not easily replicated.

Volunteer Jade said the service relies on council funding and warned that cut could threaten its survival.

News imageBrooke, who is in her mid 30s has long, brown hair. She is smiling at the camera and sitting next to her grandmother who has short, grey hair and is looking at the camera. She is wearing a grey jumper and a dark jacket with a silver brooch. Brooke is wearing a dark shirt or jacket. There are home-made drawings on the wall behind them.
Brooke fears her grandmother will be confused by new faces if she has to move to a different day service

Elizabeth, who is 90 and lives with Alzheimer's, attends CACE twice a week.

Her granddaughter Brooke said the structure and stimulation helped slow her decline.

"If she wasn't here, she'd be indoors all the time," Brooke says.

"I think her Alzheimer's would get worse much more quickly."

Brooke described the group as being "like an extended family" and said it provided reassurance that Elizabeth was safe, engaged and cared for.

News imageCACE staff members Susan, who has dark hair and is wearing a black blouse with white spots, Lindsay, who has blonde hair, tied back, who is wearing a black and white striped polo-neck jumper and George, who has a bald head and is wearing a maroon top. They are all smiling at the camera.
Staff members Susan (left), Lindsay (middle) and George (right)

For day service manager Lindsay, CACE's worth is clear.

She points to service user Paul, 87, as an example.

After a sudden loss of his wife of 60 years, Paul was "forced" by his daughter-in-law to attend CACE, as means of support and to socialise.

"He came in and wouldn't take his jacket or beanie hat off," Lindsay says.

"In week four he finally took his hat off and I thought 'oh this is progress'."

Paul, a former soldier, was suffering from acute depression and PTSD.

Staff were concerned for his mental health as he took several weeks to engage with activities and other service users.

News imagePaul standing next to a wall of artwork he has created. He has an almost bald head and brown-rimmed glasses. He is wearing a blue suit jacket, light blue shirt and a blue and green tartan waistcoat and matching tartan tie. He is leaning on a stick.
Paul and his wall - the staff put up Paul's artwork and poems in their office

He began attending the grief‑support sessions led by Lindsay, where he slowly opened up about losing his wife and became able to speak honestly about his grief.

"He would call us out of office hours in an inconsolable state," Lindsay says.

"Now he brings me a poem and a painting every time he sees me."

Since then, Paul hasn't missed a single week of day support, group activities or even the cinema outings CACE offers.

Paul said he has even started enjoying the art sessions at CACE, and recently took part in an intergenerational art project at Greenfaulds High School.

He admits he "never would have imagined doing that before."

"I am extremely grateful... they've brought back joy in my life," he says.

News imageThree pensioners, Alice, Mary and Margaret sitting at a table with felt-tip pens and colouring sheets. They all have short, white or grey hair. Alice is wearing a blue jumper and gold necklaces, Mary is wearing a pink jumper and Margaret is wearing a brown and white striped jumper.
Alice (left), Mary (middle) and Margaret (right) met through the day service and have since become friends

CACE has started a petition and is actively making an effort to keep the doors open to as many people as possible.

The council says the decision reflects the presence of comparable services, a need to share funding more fairly, and a commitment to offering alternative support options.