Care home facing closure pulls plug on respite services
Centre ends rehabilitation and relief breaks
A Maidstone care home earmarked for closure has stopped a service looking after people needing rehabilitation or a short break from their carers.
The Dorothy Lucy Centre, in Northumberland Road, Maidstone, had space for 28 people and offered respite care, day services, plus dementia services, but is due to close for good next year.
It is run by Kent County Council, whose closure proposal sparked angry reactions and a campaign calling for a re-think.
While dementia and day services will continue until March, short-term and respite care has now finished.
KCC confirmed it has secured places at Ashley Gardens and The Oast care home in Plains Avenue, both within two miles of the centre of Maidstone.
Beds have also been found at Hillbeck in Bearsted, three miles away and Chippendayle Lodge in Harrietsham, seven miles away.
One permanent resident has also been moved from Dorothy Lucy. Campaigner Mar- ian Reader, whose aunt Shirley Woodcock used the centre, presented a petition with 3,000 signatures and spoke at a council meeting in March against shutting the place.
Despite a protest councillors went ahead, describing the centre as “not fit for purpose”.
Mrs Reader said: “I spoke out as I had an aunt who was there and she loved it and felt she was looked after. It was a home-fromhome.”
Ms Woodcock, who sadly died in January, received exemplary care when she broke her hip, her niece said. “We were trying to convert the house at the time and the Dorothy Lucy looked after her so well. All the staff were so friendly and the meals were excellent.”
Mrs Reader, of Ringlestone Road, Maidstone, added: “I’m glad services have resumed but Harrietsham is too far for people. You would need a car or some form of transport.”
Speaking when the closure was approved, Cllr Graham Gibbens, cabinet member for adult care, said: “I am not going to say that cost is not an issue. For me, it is about the quality of care.
“We are looking hard at how we are going to provide the right sort of care as we move forward.”
Age Concern said it expected dementia services provided by the centre would also move to other locations next year.