�A woman who has watched her husband’s “brilliant” mind deteriorate from dementia has outlined why Haringey Council should not rationalise day care.

Emel Teymour’s husband, Necdet, suffers from a rare form of dementia – Pick’s disease – and she is his primary carer. She is leading a campaign to stop the council from amalgamating dementia day care centres in the borough.

“I’m fighting this because, like children, dementia sufferers can’t speak for themselves,” she said.

“They need to be treated with dignity and respect. The best way to deal with dementia is to support sufferers (and their families) to stay independent for as long as possible. We are not doing things in the right way.”

Her husband attends The Haynes Centre in Park Road, Hornsey, five days a week from 10.30am to 3pm.

But she is concerned that his days there will be cut back if it merges with the Grange in Tottenham or Woodside in Wood Green. This would put a huge strain on her and other carers.

She said: “The centre provides essential daily respite. It’s not only physical – this is deeply emotional.

“I lose a bit of my husband every day and it’s a difficult thing to watch.”

Her husband has been attending five days a week since February last year. But before that he was at home full-time and she became very ill. She is fearful of returning to those times.

“You’re constantly on edge – the smallest thing can push you over the edge as carers,” she said.

At The Haynes, her husband is safe and happy and it gives Mrs Teymour much-needed respite.

The Labour-run council is also planning to close four drop-in centres and four residential care homes in the borough as part of a review of adult social care.

Adult services boss Cllr Dilek Dogus said that the council was being forced to review all services because of central government cuts.

She added: “We recognise the specialist needs of people with dementia and our savings proposals seek to minimise the impact on services for these people.”

Two Hampstead care homes which cater for patients suffering from dementia and mental illnesses could also close.

Queen Mary’s House opened almost a century ago and provides care for dementia patients in East Heath Road. But it has been earmarked for closure under plans by Camden and Islington Foundation Trust which is looking for savings of more than �26million over the next three years.

The Grove Hospital, in the grounds of the Royal Free, provides care for people suffering from mental illness and is also under threat.

The plans will go before the trust’s board today (Thursday) at 5pm in the Jafar Kareem Room, Highgate Mental Health Centre.