Katie Price has explained her decision to move her teenage son Harvey into residential care, where she feels he can be offered the support that she isn’t able to give him.
The former glamour model has been discussing whether 16-year-old Harvey – who has Prader-Willi syndrome and autism – should be moved into residential care for some time now, admitting during the latest episode of her reality show that she feels the time is right.
After boyfriend Kris Boyson saw a headline about Harvey, Katie confirmed she felt she had “no option” but to move him into care, admitting she feels she’s been “selfish” by keeping him at home for so long.
“I don’t want him to go, but the doctors, my mum, everyone is saying it’s the best thing for him,” she explained. “You know, he is 16 and I suppose I’m the selfish one because I just want him with me all the time.
“I have to think about it, I haven’t really got an option really, he has to go, I haven’t got an option.”
Katie was also heard saying: “What they can offer Harvey what I can’t is daily exercise, keeping him on a healthy food plan, he can’t go into the cupboards and eat, he gets to socialise with his friends, it’s more freedom for him.”
During an interview on This Morning back in February, Katie revealed that Harvey was “six foot two, 24 stone and still growing”.
She said at that time: “He’s got this side to him, challenging behaviour… my house is smashed to bits, he’s gone through eight iPads this year, four tellies… I love him so much, he’s my absolute life, but he’s just hard work now.”
Katie continued: “I’ve never done respite [care], because I would never want Harvey to think that I’m palming him off. But it’s come to a point, I absolutely have no choice.”