Rest home closure confirmed
An Invercargill rest home with 18 elderly residents and 30 staff will close its doors for the final time before Easter.
Manager Graham Dobbs said Takitimu Home, which has been operating for 55 years but running at a deficit for the past several years, has had financial issues arising from low occupancy and rising wage and operating costs, making the continued operation of the facility uneconomic.
Dobbs said 24 permanent and 6 casual staff would lose their jobs and 18 rest home residents, three boarding tenants and one flat tenant would have to be relocated.
The decision was made following cconsultation with staff and after the Takitimu board met yesterday.
Tenants of the flats adjacent to the main building would continue with their tenancies.
Dobbs said he was saddened the decision needed to be made but believed it was the only prudent thing to do.
Before the announcement, the Grey Power Southland committee expressed dismay at the proposed closure of the Anglican Care Trust’s home. Grey Power Southland office manager Stephnie de Ruyter said the committee was appalled that the consultation period was just five days. The lobby group called for an extension of the consultation timeline, and a broadening of the consultation scope to include groupsthat may be in a position to offer suggestions to avoid the closure.
Grey Power Southland feared the move may prove traumatic for frail, elderly residents, as moving house was widely considered to be one of life’s three most stressful events.
The organisation had allowed the situation at Takitimu Home to deteriorate, de Ruyter said. ‘‘This is not just another Southland business in financial distress: it’s a business with a moral responsibility to its residents and their families, and its staff.
‘‘The wider community has an interest in Takitimu Home, too. Ideally, we’d like all options considered tto keep Takitimu Home open.’’
Dobbs said Takitimu Home appreciated it was a stressful and distressing time for staff and residents as it had worked through the consultation process.
It was disappointing Grey Power had not engaged directly with Takitimu Home regarding its concerns instead of communicating via the media, he said.
‘‘We are available to meet with Grey Power representatives should they wish to discuss their concerns with us directly.’’
‘‘In the meantime our priority is to work with our staff and residents to ensure that we do whatever we can to consider their feedback and answer their concerns.’’
This week, the Southern District Health Board said there was accommodation available in several other aged residential care facilities in Invercargill.
‘‘We will work alongside Takitimu Home to ensure a smooth transition of residents to them.’’