THE decision to axe funding for the care alarm service in sheltered accommodation across Ceredigion – including the Bro Teifi complex at Cardigan - has again come under fire.

Ceredigion County Council is to stop paying for emergency call alarms for nearly 500 elderly and/or disabled tenants from April 1. It is understood that will save £40,000 a year.

The sheltered schemes are all managed by Tai Ceredigion, which is challenging the council’s decision which it says could have “potentially life-threatening outcomes”.

A letter has now been sent from Cardigan Town Council expressing its worries.

It said: “The council was dismayed at the latest proposal by the department as it is deemed that these cutbacks will aversely affect vulnerable people in our society.

“Members implore you to seriously reconsider the implications these cuts will have on the elderly and vulnerable members of our communities in Ceredigion, many of whom are on low income and find the ever-increasing cost of living to be troublesome and worrying.”

However, the county council insists that social landlords must now pay for the system.

A spokesman said: “Ceredigion County Council acknowledge the importance of the Careline alarm system and wish to see them continue wherever possible. However, the funding of these alarms is the responsibility of social landlords.

“They must determine how best they support their residents if they value the system as much as the council.

“From April 2019, the grant subsidy for the alarms awarded to social landlords in Ceredigion is being removed as it is not the council’s responsibility to subsidise the scheme. This decision is in line with changes to the Welsh Government guidance on the Supporting People Grant published in 2018.

“The decision will ensure equality for all residents in Ceredigion who are in receipt of an alarm. Citizens who do not live in social housing have been required to pay, in full for Careline alarm costs since 2010.

“The decision to stop subsidising alarms is part on an ongoing review of services, focusing to ensuring we meet the changing needs and demands of the whole population of Ceredigion.

“The local authority has made it clear to all social landlords who receive Supporting People grant, that it will continue to fund scheme co-ordinators at sheltered accommodation settings such as Bro Teifi during the coming financial year, and that any and all reviews of services going forward will be undertaken with the involvement of service users.”