FORMER trustees at an Amman Valley dementia respite centre have been left ‘devastated’ after the pioneering centre went into administration.

Hafan Croeso, on Heol Aman, Glanaman, which offered respite to people aged 52 to 100, was set up by the Amman Valley Dementia Carers Support Group more than ten years ago following the success of its Hafan Gobaith day centre.

The home was bought and converted with the help of a Lottery grant and the community.

Dorothy McDonald, who spearheaded the groundbreaking home, said she was “heartbroken” by the news.

“We are devastated,” said Mrs McDonald.

“There are 12 beautiful rooms in the home that were designed with leading dementia experts from Stirling University to meet the specific requirements of people with dementia.”

In September 2015, all original trustee positions at Hafan Dementia Ltd were terminated, and between December 2015 and July 2016, four new directors were appointed

“When we left it, it was financially fine,” said Mrs McDonald.

“Ten years of our lives went into building it and there was such a massive demand from families of those with dementia.

“I cannot understand why it has gone into administration.

“It’s such a waste, I wish I knew why.

“There are people who desperately need respite care - it had everything going for it. Why wasn’t it financially viable?

An administrator was appointed on June 29, and neighbours said a maintenance man attended to change the locks last week.

Increasing demand from an ageing population could see that grow to more than 70,000 beds in nine years’ time.

Experts have said that around one in three people in Wales would have a family member suffering from the disease in the coming years.

Mrs McDonald said she feared the lose of the centre would mean individuals would no longer be able to find the services they needed.

Carmarthenshire County Council, which funded many of the centre’s users declined to comment.