Care homes facing threat of closure

THE future of three care homes in Angus hangs in the balance this Christmas as it emerged closure could be on the cards.

Worried residents and their families face an uncertain time as costsaving measures have been revealed.

Angus Health and Social Care Partnership Integration Joint Board (IJB) sent letters to local families, consulting them on potential plans to cut beds and save cash.

There are 10 options on the table, including potential closure of one of the care homes, which are Beech Hill in Forfar, Kinloch in Carnoustie and Seaton Grove in Arbroath.

In the papers, plans reveal options for the three Angus care homes are being considered. This is so resources can be moved to care at home and “early intervention work”.

The consultation will gather views on the impact of plans to potentially remove up to 20 beds to help inform what happens next.

Fears have been raised that where there are fewer than 20 beds in a care home, this could result in its closure.

The IJB – which oversees the Angus Health and Social Care Partnership – says there are around 100 vacancies in the care home sector currently.

Conversely, care at home has experienced a growth of 3,000 hours per week during the pandemic and is struggling to provide for this growth in demand.

To support that increase, the board says it needs to look differently at how services are delivered.

The IJB is keen to point out a final decision is yet to be made.

Residents affected by any change would have a review of their care needs, involving family members or guardians.

And this would inform their future planning and any change of living situation. Compulsory redundancies are not expected.