Wife of Alzheimer’s victim challenges Councillor Pat Callaghan on Netherwood Centre closure

Published: 17th February, 2011
by TOM FOOT

THE wife of an electrician cut down in his prime by Alzheimer’s disease has challenged Camden Council’s social services chief to live in her home to experience the daily struggle of being a carer.

Margaret Clinton, 66, who works at La Sante Union secondary school, has written to Councillor Pat Callaghan after she revealed last week that Netherwood Centre in West Hampstead would close in July. 

The purpose-built day centre, which is used by around 35 vulnerable and confused people suffering acute memory loss, including Ms Clinton’s husband John, has fallen victim to the Town Hall’s budget by central government.

In a direct plea to Cllr Callaghan, Mrs Clinton, who has lived in Woodsome Road, Highgate, for more than 40 years, said: “I know you have to make cuts. I know you are finding this hard. But I ask you to see for yourself the 

daily struggle of a carer. I invite you to spend a week with me and John in our home to see how important Netherwood really is to both of us. Netherwood is not just a day centre, it is a lifeline.”

Cllr Callaghan declined to stay the night but said she would visit Mrs Clinton, adding she had experience of carer’s trauma while working as a nurse on a geriatric ward at the Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth.

She told the New Journal on Tuesday that privately she felt the closure of Netherwood was “the most devastating of the lot”, adding: “I think we’re all devastated about the Netherwood Centre. We know it will be a terrible wrench. We are looking at this again. We may be able to delay things until September.”

Families of Alzheimer’s sufferers often become round-the-clock carers who become exhausted and struggle with a form of bereavement.

Mr Clinton, 67, was a highly skilled electrician who put up the lights on the Post Office tower. His wife of 45 years recalled how he used to complete the Telegraph newspaper cryptic crossword in minutes and was a keen Scrabble player. But now he barely recognises his closest family. Mrs Clinton said: “For nearly 10 years, I watched as the man I married slowly ebbed away. I realised that I alone could not cope with the devastating effects of this illness.”

She said that Mr Clinton sometimes appeared to “escape his illness” at Netherwood, praising the “caring staff” and how she felt “safe” knowing he was “looked after” in the day.

Around 35 vulnerable people are picked up from home at 9am and taken to the centre, where trips and activities are organised by trained staff.

Crucially, the centre is on one level with a large garden allowing for “roaming”, a symptom of the condition.

Camden Council is trying to save £16million from its adult social care budget this year. Officials estimate that Netherwood costs £250,000 a year to run. 

Kilburn ward Labour councillors said on Tuesday they were “extremely concerned” about the changes.