We’re losing sleep over what will happen to dad
Fears for frail and elderly residents who stay in care home council has earmarked for closure
Concerns were raised this week over the future of a 92-year-old man after South Lanarkshire Council revealed plans to close the care home he has been living in for years.
Hugh Grady is a resident of Mcwhirter House in Larkhall but the local authority plan to axe it.
His daughter Anne Craney, of Uddingston, says her father is living with dementia and requires 24hour care, and is appalled to learn of the council’s decision to close Mcwhirter and Kirkton Home, in Blantyre, and open a new open a new community hub facility in Blantyre.
There are concerns that the move is not a like-for-like replacement and will result in a reduced number of long-term care beds in South Lanarkshire.
Anne explained: “My father is living with dementia, along with having a number of other health issues including a heart condition.
“Moves of any kind for increasingly frail and elderly people, many of whom have dementia, can be extremely disorientating, distressing and upsetting – no matter how carefully managed.
“This makes the decision to close care homes which look after people with complex care, needs all the more concerning.”
Anne says the correspondence she has received from the council has been “inadequate” and leaves her not knowing what the future holds.
She added: “I have had various meetings with different people, but still I am no further forward with a time-scale and what care they hope to provide for my father.
“My dad has worked hard all his life and it was not an easy step to have him cared for in a home, but he is settled there and very happy.
“I, like many, others feel let down and I’m losing sleep over what will happen next.
“He is so happy at this complex. The new facility, as far as I can see will not be suitable for my father and I don’t know what is going to happen.
“There is no timescale over the development. This is my father’s home and he is vulnerable.”
Central Scotland MSP Monica Lennon said: “As Anne’s MSP, I have been trying to get straight answers from South Lanarkshire Council over what will happen to her elderly father if Mcwhirter is to close. Unfortunately, Anne’s experience is just one of many examples of care home residents, and their families, who feel they have not been properly consulted over these plans and are being let down by the process.
“For those who have lived at Mcwhirter for years, and built up a relationship with the staff there, it’s only natural that the residents and their families will be anxious at the prospect of having to move on.
“Labour councillors are working tirelessly to challenge these cuts and, like them, I would urge the SNP administration to reconsider these closures.”
Larkhall Councillor Andy Carmichael has had similar complaints to Anne’s, and said: “I have received numerous letters from constituents raising concerns about family members who are presently in Mcwhirter House, asking what will happen to them when it closes. But no one can give them an answer.
“These closures and the further proposed closures of other homes by South Lanarkshire Council are totally unacceptable to the longterm care of our elderly residents, and I will continue the campaign to have these decisions reversed. I’d urge everyone to write to South Lanarkshire Council chief executive Lindsay Freeland and express their opposition to this decision.”
However, South Lanarkshire Council say they have approved plans to invest more than £18 million to modernise care facilities.
Ian Beattie, head of Health and Social Care at South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “The new model of care is designed to support increased numbers of older people and ensure they receive the most appropriate support at the right time and in the right place.
“The council is fully aware of, and sympathetic to, the concerns that existing residents and their families may have about potential moves to an alternative care home.
“However, this is a programme of work that will span a number of years and there is no immediate need for residents to move unless they wish to do so.
“Each resident will be offered a comprehensive review of their circumstances to ensure we completely understand their needs and wishes.
“Residents and families will be fully consulted and offered choice in terms of the moves that will take place so that we ensure current residents’ needs are fully met.”
Moving frail and elderly people, many with dementia, can be distressing