AN elderly couple's daughter has described a social service's decision to withdraw their home care away as “disgraceful”.Betty and Stanley Bacon, aged 83 and 89, need regular visits by social care workers to their home in Boxford, near Sudbury, to help them with cooking, cleaning and bathing.

AN elderly couple's daughter has described a social service's decision to withdraw their home care away as “disgraceful”.

Betty and Stanley Bacon, aged 83 and 89, need regular visits by social care workers to their home in Boxford, near Sudbury, to help them with cooking, cleaning and bathing.

Until recently they both received regular visits from carers but now the service has been withdrawn and the couple has been told Mr Bacon should go into a home.

But neither want to leave their home and their daughter, Zena Lewis, of Colchester, has had to move in to care for them both full-time.

She believes her father, who worked until he was 83, deserves better. Mrs Lewis said: “Last December my father went into hospital with a distended stomach and after that he really went downhill and now they've told us he needs to go into a care home.

“On Sunday, we received a notice of no care - they've said they can't fit us in. My father needs help at least four times a day with two carers each time and mum needs one carer twice a day.

“They've offered us the money to sort out care at home ourselves but I don't have the time. I don't want to live with my parents and I don't see how I am going to find the care when they (the county council) can't find it.”

Mrs Bacon, who needs help bathing and is housebound, said: “It is very upsetting. Zena has had an operation on her spine and it is such a worry for me because she has to do all this lifting.

“She shouldn't be here at all. We deserve better at this stage in our lives.” Her husband is chairbound and needs a hoist and two carers.

Graham Newman, portfolio holder for adult and community services, said: “Our manager has now spoken to a relative of Mr and Mrs Bacon at the couple's home, to assure them that our night care service will make arrangements for appropriate cover over the weekend.

“We will then review with the family what care visits will be arranged to enable Mr and Mrs Bacon to remain in their own home.

“We did offer the couple respite residential care for the emergency period whilst we arranged longer-term home support, but they declined, preferring to stay at home with just the one evening care visit that we could then offer.

“I am sure we will now find a way forward with the family so that Mr and Mrs Bacon are safe and well looked after in their own home.”

will.clarke@eadt.co.uk