Widow, 98, with dementia evicted from care home after spending £24k lifesavings on bills

Brenda Miles was given just two days’ notice to leave her care home.

Brenda Miles was evicted from a care home after her money ran out (Image: Courtesy of Victoria Fellows / SWNS)

A 98-year-old widow battling dementia who spent her £240,000 life savings on care bills has been evicted after her money ran out. Brenda Miles was given just two days’ notice to leave Innage Grange care home, in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, where she had lived for five years.

The retired book-binder, who suffers from dementia and has mobility issues, requires round-the-clock care. Brenda, who has no children, moved into Innage Grange in 2020 after her husband Gordon died in 2018.

The sale of their two-bed bungalow in Bridgnorth, combined with her savings, totalled around £240,000.

She used the money to pay for care bills of around £ 4,000 a month – the equivalent of £48,000 per year.

However, Brenda, who celebrated her 98th birthday with a tea party at her home in August, is now running out of money and is unable to afford the crippling care costs.

Her savings have dwindled below the £23,000 threshold where state help can be sought.

The family asked for financial support from Shropshire Council to enable her to remain in Innage Grange for her remaining days.

However, officials refused, saying the care costs were too much for the council to fund and insisted she move to a more affordable home.

Brenda Miles was given just two days’ notice to leave Innage Grange care home (Image: Courtesy of Victoria Fellows / SWNS)

On October 31, the council moved her into Hilton Brook House in Bridgnorth, which charges around £ 2,400 a month.

Brenda’s niece, Victoria Fellows, has condemned the council, accusing them of “dumping” her aunt.

Victoria, 41, who lives on the Isle of Wight, Hants., said: “The whole situation is just plain wrong.

“How can you put a 98-year-old through so much upheaval?

“I was told when she was dropped off at the new home she asked ‘where are all my friends?’ It’s just heartbreaking.

“They didn’t even move all her belongings into Hilton Brook House. She still has pictures on the wall back in her old room.”

Brenda was torn away from the home and staff she adored when her savings dipped below the £23,000 threshold for self-funded care.

Victoria, who has been coordinating her aunt’s care with her cousins, said: “I contacted the council in July and they said at the end of September that they wouldn’t be covering the costs.

“They gave us two weeks to act and then two days’ notice.

“It is not as if Shropshire Council will be paying her rent for 40 years – she is 98.

Brenda Miles with her niece Victoria Fellows as a baby (Image: Courtesy of Victoria Fellows / SWNS)

“It’s disgusting that they’d treat a 98-year-old woman like that.

“As far as I can tell they sent a taxi, picked up an old lady and dumped her.”

The family contacted South Shropshire MP Stuart Anderson, who tried to get the council to conduct a review, but without success.

Victoria, who works in data annotation, said the care home where Brenda was now living was not suitable for her aunt’s needs.

She added: “The room isn’t an ensuite which is hardly handy for a 98-year-old with dementia.

Brenda, who has no children, moved into Innage Grange in 2020 after her husband Gordon died in 2018 (Image: Courtesy of Victoria Fellows / SWNS)

“She’s mobile with her walking frame, but she’s not sprightly.

“My other cousin has been inside and says the staff are very nice but my aunt was really settled at Innage Grange.

“The upheaval of moving for her is very upsetting for someone who has always worked and lived her whole life to be treated like this is just not right.

“Other than her named social worker, I’ve heard nothing from anyone higher up. No apology, no real explanation.”

A spokesperson for Shropshire Council refused to comment on individual cases.