Staff at sheltered housing for the elderly pinned up posters of coffins to try and persuade its vulnerable residents to self-isolate and stop the spread of Covid-19, Mail Online can reveal.
The stark images of open wooden caskets were accompanied by a caption saying: ‘Your confined space? Or this one?’.
Elderly people living at William Lench Court in Birmingham were horrified by the signs, which also threatened that no one would look after them if staff got sick.
Staff at William Lench Court in Birmingham, sheltered housing for the elderly, pinned up posters of coffins to try and persuade its vulnerable residents to self-isolate and stop the spread of Covid-19, Mail Online can reveal
The stark images of open wooden caskets were accompanied by a caption saying: ‘Your confined space? Or this one?’ Elderly people living at William Lench Court in Birmingham were horrified by the signs, which also threatened that no one would look after them if staff got sick
The posters were condemned by both elderly charity AgeUK and the Department of Health and Social Care who said they would never promote such messages. Pictured: William Lench Court
Numerous posters were pinned along corridors and on doors of the sheltered accommodation block, which caters for around 100 residents with varying levels of need.
They were condemned by both elderly charity AgeUK and the Department of Health and Social Care who said they would never promote such messages.
One woman in her 70s, who asked not to be named, told MailOnline: ‘It is completely sick. I’d call it psychological torture.
‘There are a lot of old people here and those with dementia and for them to see a coffin every time they open their door is disgraceful.’
Underneath each poster was a piece of A4 paper with a message in block capitals which read: ’15 dead residents in local carehome (sic) and 15 staff off sick (less than 5 miles away) Stay inside to keep yourself and our staff safe – if we lose 15 staff members you will have no one to protect you.’
Caroline Abrahams, from Age UK, said vulnerable people were already deeply troubled by the threat of coronavirus.
‘We know that many older people are feeling very frightened by the virus so managers and staff would be well advised to try to communicate with residents in a sensitive way,’ she said.
‘It’s hard to see pictures of coffins being helpful from this point of view.’
Numerous were posted along corridors and on doors of the sheltered accommodation, which houses around 100 residents. One woman in her 70s, who asked not to be named, told MailOnline: ‘It is completely sick. I’d call it psychological torture’
Caroline Abrahams, from Age UK, said vulnerable people were already deeply troubled by the threat of coronavirus: ‘It’s hard to see pictures of coffins being helpful from this point of view’. Pictured: William Lench Court
It is understood the posters have now been taken down after numerous complaints were received. Another resident added: ‘They’ve gone but the fact they were there in the first place shows a twisted lack of judgment. ‘Residents were in tears’. Pictured: William Lench Court
A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care added: ‘Obviously it is not consistent with the style of our guidance and messaging.’
It is understood the posters have now been taken down after numerous complaints were received.
Another resident added: ‘They’ve gone but the fact they were there in the first place shows a twisted lack of judgment.
‘Residents were in tears. To be totally isolated and bombarded us with posters like that is disgusting.’
William Lench Court is one of three ‘independent living’ facilities run by the Lench’s Trust charity, which has come under fire for its tough stance on residents.
After lockdown was introduced on March 23, the trust told residents in writing that they were being placed ‘in isolation’ and not to leave their apartments ‘under any pretext’.
Several residents said they were later threatened with eviction if they left their apartments – a draconian upscaling of the Government’s ‘Stay at Home’ rules.
One businessman in his early seventies had his entry fob disconnected after driving out to shop for himself and an elderly friend. He was forced to walk back carrying his heavy shopping.
William Lench Court (pictured) is one of three ‘independent living’ facilities run by the Lench’s Trust charity, which has come under fire for its tough stance on residents. After lockdown, residents were told not to leave their apartments ‘under any pretext’
He has written to the home’s Chief Executive Jean-Luc Priez threatening to sue if his knee condition deteriorates: ‘If my legs and knees deteriorate through this situation which you have caused with your vindictiveness, childish and bombastic attitude, you will leave me no alternative but to sue you personally for the unnecessary pain and distress that you have caused me.’
Residents also claimed one recently widowed woman was reduced to tears when confronted by the charity’s Chief Executive as she exercised her little dog.
Today the Chairman of their Trustees Richard Sarjeant said: ‘I have been asked not to speak to the media about this.’