THE manager of a Tenbury day care centre says that some elderly people are more in danger from being forced to stay at home than they are from catching Covid-19.

Ria Baxter and her team at the Kyrebrook Daycare Centre are working to provide care for up to eight elderly people each day and at the same time providing respite for families and carers.

“People with dementia have suffered terribly and frankly have been at more risk from hurting themselves at home than coming to the day centre where we follow strict hygiene rules,” said Ms Baxter.

She said that many of the people who attend the centre suffer from dementia and need the structure and routine of coming to the day care centre that they do not get being stuck at home.

“Without a routine the people sleep during the day and often are awake at night making it very hard for family and carers,” said Ms Baxter.

The day care centre was completely closed during the first lockdown in spring and early summer forcing clients to stay at home.

“We reopened on July 6 reducing our capacity from 12 clients per day to eight in order to meet social distancing guidelines,” Ms Baxter added.

Each week 13 people attend the day centre where there are four employed and four volunteer staff.

“We were able to remain open during the two further lockdowns from November 5 and December 31 under the guidelines of meeting in larger groups,” said Ms Baxter.

“There are exceptions where people can continue to gather indoors or in private gardens, or in groups larger than six, in outdoor public places.

“Support groups of up to 15 participants – formally organised groups to provide mutual aid, therapy or any other form of support, where it is necessary for these to take place in person.

“These cannot take place in private dwellings. Under-5s do not count towards the 15 person limit for support groups.”