PROPOSALS to cut night-time staff at an assisted living facility may force vulnerable residents out.

An 81-year-old woman who suffers from dementia and lives at Marten House in Burgess Hill is concerned about the future. Her 52-year-old daughter is currently trying to fight West Sussex County Council on its plans.

Marten House provides ill and elderly people with independent living but with round-the-clock care staff. But its residents received a letter from the council on July 10 inviting them to a meeting to discuss the care situation. At the meeting, they were told that night-time staff would be cut as of September 28 this year.

The 52-year-old said: “Mum doesn’t rely on the night-time staff all the time yet, but she might in the future. I asked the councillors what would happen to residents who needed night-time staff and they said they would be housed elsewhere, but when I asked where they didn’t tell me.

“When mum had a fall in the middle of the night, the staff sat with her and comforted her. She has become really depressed after hearing the news. She just wants to stay in bed all day and keeps asking what is going to happen.”

Councillor Anne Jones, who sits on West Sussex County Council, Mid Sussex District Council and Burgess Hill Town Council, said: “We are committed to ensuring all residents continue to feel safe and secure in their homes but we understand that residents and their families may have some concerns in relation to the changes to the night time care presence at Marten House from September.

A spokesman from West Sussex County Council said: “Marten House will continue to have a dedicated scheme manager who will be based on site during office hours.”