A MOTHER said she fears for her severely disabled daughter’s mental health after she was placed in supported care with only ill elderly residents as company.

The family of cerebral palsy and epilepsy sufferer, Sam St Pierre, said the 36-year-old has metaphorically ‘lost her voice’ after being placed somewhere she ‘desperately wants to leave’.

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Sam has been placed by Lancashire County Council in a bungalow in Burnsall Place, Barrowford with only a 79-year-old pensioner, who is too frail to move, and a 61-year-old woman, who has autism, as company.

Her mum Alison St Pierre said that since her daughter, who communicates mostly via sign language, has been in the accommodation her health has ‘significantly deteriorated’ because she has nothing in common and cannot communicate with her housemates.

However, despite the family’s concern around the suitability of Sam’s placement, County Hall bosses said they were adamant it was ‘suitable’.

Ms St Pierre, 56, from Fence, said her daughter had developed depression and seizures since moving into to the accommodation and her medication has tripled.

She said: “Her health has significantly deteriorated since being placed in this bungalow.

“She has developed depression and acute nocturnal seizures, which I believe are stress related.

“All the time she just asks to move because she is so unhappy.

“I am actually fearing for her life now because she is extremely weak.

“Her mental health needs are not being fulfilled.

“It’s enough having severe cerebral palsy and epilepsy without not being able to communicate with who you are living with and developing depression because you’re so lonely.”

Sam, who is originally from Trawden, moved to the bungalow after more than a decade in a residential home in Preston, where she ‘enjoyed independent life’, until she complained of assault from a staff member and was forced to leave.

A bed has been held at a home declared more ‘age appropriate’ by Sam’s family, in Hebden Bridge for a year, but Lancashire County Council has said it is unable to afford to move her.

Ms St Pierre said: “A bed has been held at Hepdene House for 12 months and on Sam’s birthday, they said they couldn’t hold it any longer.

“When we visited Sam made a friend there and the friend keeps asking when she’s going to move in.

“Sam wants to be with her as she is a similar age and has the same condition.

“Sam is a funny, witty and sociable girl, who would love to go to the cinema, go shopping at the Trafford Centre, go to the pub, but she isn’t being given the chance to do any of it.

“It is so frustrating that Lancashire County Council will not pay for her to move as the fees are less than what she had to pay in Preston.

“She enjoyed independent life in Preston and that has been snatched from her.”

Sam’s bungalow is set back from other houses in the street and she cannot get outside because of the layout of the garden blocks her wheelchair and walking frame.

Fees for Sam’s bungalow are £850-a-week.

Hepdene House in Hebden Bridge, just five minutes away from Sam’s sister Eve, will accept £1,250- a-week, a fee less than Sam’s original care home in Preston.

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson said he has spoken to Ms St Pierre about her daughter’s predicament and plans to write to County Hall bosses to see what can be done.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: “We have given careful consideration to Ms St Pierre’s needs and believe that her current placement is suitable.

“Currently Ms St Pierre lives in local authority supported living accommodation with associated tenancy rights, with her support plan addressing her wider social needs.

“It has been suggested to us that Ms St Pierre is moved to private residential care outside of the county at significant additional cost. However, we have to make decisions about placements based on an approach that is fair and equitable to all of the people we support.”