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'It was devastating': families and residents suffer as care homes close 'It was devastating': families and residents suffer as care homes close
(about 5 hours later)
In January, families of the residents at Leolyn care home received letters inviting them to a meeting. There, they received startling news: the home was to close and they had until 31 March to find new accommodation for their relatives.In January, families of the residents at Leolyn care home received letters inviting them to a meeting. There, they received startling news: the home was to close and they had until 31 March to find new accommodation for their relatives.
“It was devastating, as far as I was concerned,” said Jean Moore, an 87-year-old who lived at the home, in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, for three years. “It was traumatic to be moved … There, you knew everybody, everybody knew you and you didn’t have to keep repeating what you liked and what you didn’t like.”“It was devastating, as far as I was concerned,” said Jean Moore, an 87-year-old who lived at the home, in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, for three years. “It was traumatic to be moved … There, you knew everybody, everybody knew you and you didn’t have to keep repeating what you liked and what you didn’t like.”
Moore’s son Gareth, 50, who has complex physical health problems, was also in Leolyn. “I was worried about being separated from my son … I felt I’d be cut off,” she said.Moore’s son Gareth, 50, who has complex physical health problems, was also in Leolyn. “I was worried about being separated from my son … I felt I’d be cut off,” she said.
Carol Partington, Moore’s niece, had always liked the home. “I joked I was going to put my name down as well. It was a lovely place to visit,” she said. “It’s stressful moving home for anyone, but when you’re reliant totally on other people, that makes it even worse... No one can be here 24/7 checking up.”Carol Partington, Moore’s niece, had always liked the home. “I joked I was going to put my name down as well. It was a lovely place to visit,” she said. “It’s stressful moving home for anyone, but when you’re reliant totally on other people, that makes it even worse... No one can be here 24/7 checking up.”
Leolyn, a grand, candy-coloured Victorian building on a quiet street, will become one of thousands of care homes closing. England lost almost 2,000 care homes between 2010 and July 2016 according to the Care Quality Commission, despite an ageing population.Leolyn, a grand, candy-coloured Victorian building on a quiet street, will become one of thousands of care homes closing. England lost almost 2,000 care homes between 2010 and July 2016 according to the Care Quality Commission, despite an ageing population.
A couple of miles away, another home, Clyde House, summoned families and delivered the same message. Both are operated by New Century Care, which runs 25 care homes across south-east England and Yorkshire, and was taken over in 2014 by a US private equity firm, Anchorage Capital. In total, 89 jobs are at risk.A couple of miles away, another home, Clyde House, summoned families and delivered the same message. Both are operated by New Century Care, which runs 25 care homes across south-east England and Yorkshire, and was taken over in 2014 by a US private equity firm, Anchorage Capital. In total, 89 jobs are at risk.
East Sussex county council was very disappointed by the decision, a spokesman said, adding: “Following their decision in 2015 to close their other home in East Sussex, Tredegar, we provided a significant amount of support to the two homes that they have now also decided to close – Clyde House and Leolyn – and received assurances the company was committed to investing in the long-term future of both homes.”East Sussex county council was very disappointed by the decision, a spokesman said, adding: “Following their decision in 2015 to close their other home in East Sussex, Tredegar, we provided a significant amount of support to the two homes that they have now also decided to close – Clyde House and Leolyn – and received assurances the company was committed to investing in the long-term future of both homes.”
Homes face brutal financial challenges including the increased living wage and a stubborn gap between what local authorities are prepared to pay and what the industry says is the cost of care. A Leolyn spokesman said the gap was £187 a week for residents receiving nursing care and it relied on private clients to bridge the gap. When its closure was announced, more than three-quarters of Leolyn’s 26 residents were funded by the council. Homes face brutal financial challenges including the increased living wage and a stubborn gap between what local authorities are prepared to pay and what the industry says is the cost of care. A Leolyn spokesman said the gap was £187 a week for residents receiving nursing care. Nationwide, many homes rely on private clients to bridge the funding gap. When its closure was announced, more than three-quarters of Leolyn’s 26 residents were funded by the council.
“As a responsible care provider, we have a moral and regulatory duty to make sure our homes are financially sustainable,” a spokesman said. “Despite our best efforts to resolve the situation, given the current national funding climate, both homes have been operating below a sustainable financial level with no likelihood that this situation will substantially improve in the future.”“As a responsible care provider, we have a moral and regulatory duty to make sure our homes are financially sustainable,” a spokesman said. “Despite our best efforts to resolve the situation, given the current national funding climate, both homes have been operating below a sustainable financial level with no likelihood that this situation will substantially improve in the future.”
Discussions with the council over the level of financial support the homes needed reached a dead end. The Victorian buildings needed a six-figure sum invested to bring them to the standard that would attract private clients, a New Century Care spokesman said. The 31 March closing date was an appropriate amount of time, the spokesman added, and most residents had already been re-housed. Discussions with the council over the level of financial support the homes needed reached a dead end. The Victorian buildings needed a six-figure sum invested for maintenance and adding the kinds of facilities, such as en suites, that would attract private clients, a New Century Care spokesman said. The 31 March closing date was an appropriate amount of time, the spokesman added, and most residents had already been re-housed.
Moore agreed Leolyn needed refurbishment. “Most people were very, very angry when they were told,” she said. “But I thought afterwards… it really would have needed millions spending on it, so it couldn’t remain as a care home, because what entrepreneur is going to spend millions and get very little back?”Moore agreed Leolyn needed refurbishment. “Most people were very, very angry when they were told,” she said. “But I thought afterwards… it really would have needed millions spending on it, so it couldn’t remain as a care home, because what entrepreneur is going to spend millions and get very little back?”
She and Gareth found a new care home in Bexhill, the neighbouring town. Jean says she is happy now, but moving was tough. “[It meant] leaving my friends behind, leaving the carers who became friends – they weren’t just carers, they were friends and confidants.”She and Gareth found a new care home in Bexhill, the neighbouring town. Jean says she is happy now, but moving was tough. “[It meant] leaving my friends behind, leaving the carers who became friends – they weren’t just carers, they were friends and confidants.”