Elderly residents in supported living accommodation fear something terrible is going to happen to them.

Residents of Longford Court, Rainham, say they’re suffering sleepless nights due to a lack of staffing at the Medway Council-run facility.

They told KentOnline that cutbacks mean their warden has to split her time between them and another property for the elderly.

Added to this are constant worries regarding fellow residents with dementia who are becoming a danger to themselves and a worry to their neighbours.

Jill Rees says the issue has been going on for the last three years and despite being raised several times, nothing happens.

According to the 71-year-old, they can’t have a full-time warden because of government funding cuts.

The residents are living on edge and scared of what could happen as they feel they are being forced to care for the dementia patients.

All over the age of 60 – with one in their 90s – the neighbours say they can no longer cope and fear one of the dementia patients could set fire to their home, as they are left to fend for themselves for most of the day.

According to Mrs Rees, the warden spends time there every other day. But for the rest of the time they are left alone.

There is a central control room contactable by a red buzzer for emergencies, but on the occasions it has been pressed it can take up to four hours for help to arrive.

Mrs Rees, who has lived in the Longford Close block for three years, says things are getting worse.

“The care has gone,” she said. “Carers come in the morning to make [the dementia residents] a cup of tea and give them their meds. Then they leave other meds for later on the side. No one knows if they even take them.”

Mick Scott, 70, who walks with a stick, fell in his flat once and could not get up.

He said: “It took two hours for the warden to come. It would probably be quicker to phone an ambulance.”

Once when the fire alarm went off by accident the fire brigade arrived before the wardens and no one was able to turn it off.

“We had to wait four hours listening to the noise,” Mrs Rees said.

With no one in charge for most of the day, the other residents are finding themselves having to care for those with dementia, which could mean attending to medical dressings, showing them how to work the TV, and answering phone calls and knocks on their door at all hours of day and night, for hours on end.

Mrs Rees says she dreads going home as she knows she will be plagued by knocks on her door.

“They don’t understand when to stop,” she said.

Bridget Brassill is 94 and says she is on tenterhooks most of the time, as she often hears a bang on her door in the middle of the night.

“It can be 2.30am,” she said. “You know who it is but there’s that moment when you wake up and it really shakes you. It’s frightening.”

Carol Pires, 66, is the youngest person in the accommodation and loves her neighbours but is unable to care for them.

“We’re not trained,” she said. “We don’t want this. If they have your phone number they can call you up to 37 times in half an hour. It’s overwhelming.”

They also fear for the safety of the dementia residents as they have been spotted wandering around inside and outside the confines of the accommodation, including making their way onto the high street.

With their poor mobility, the elderly neighbours say they have no way to chase them and they worry for their safety.

“What is it going to take for this to be sorted?”

“A terrible thing is going to happen soon,” Bridget said. “What is it going to take for this to be sorted?”

The senior citizens say they have been told they cannot ask for a transfer so have been left feeling trapped.

Over the years, according to Mrs Rees, residents have developed dementia but there has been nowhere else for them to go.

But there have also been cases when people already suffering with the condition have been given a flat there.

“You can’t put us all in the same place,” she said. “Or if you do, you have to have staff there who can help.”

And with “nowhere else” for dementia patients to go they are expecting the situation to get worse.

“A flat has become free and we are scared of who is coming in next,” Mrs Pires said.

Medway Council explained officers provide support to residents and ensure the building is kept in good condition and is safe.

Reviews with residents are held every six to 12 months to ensure emergency contact details, GP information and medication details are correct and up-to-date.

If further care is required a referral to Adult Social Care will be made, and a suitable care package will be put in place if needed.

A spokesman did not address the residents’ worries directly, saying: “The Homes for Independent Living scheme aims to give people over the age of 60 a home that can help keep their privacy, dignity and independence. Everybody has the right to live in their own home and, if support is required, a care package can be put in place.

“We would encourage anyone with concerns about safeguarding to raise them through the official channels – either to the council or the scheme’s support officer, who regularly visits the building.”