We’re scared and worried over care home closure plan
RESIDENTS’ FEARS AFTER LANDLORDS SAY THEY WILL BE REHOUSED
ELDERLY people have been left ‘scared and worried’ over plans to close two care homes.
Last week people living in Monica Court in Monton, and Astley Court in Irlam were told by their landlords, ForHousing, that they plan to close the two homes and rehouse tenants ‘over the coming years.’
ForHousing say they have taken the decision to ‘phase out’ buildings because ‘they cannot meet the standards’ they want to provide to tenants.
The news has been described as ‘shocking’ by staff, tenants and family members of the schemes that provide a vital service for the elderly who are in need of a high level of care.
At a meeting about the issue, 65-year-old Debbie Sieglen from Irlam, said that her short time at Astley Court has been ‘amazing.’
The news about its impending closure has left tenants ‘worried and scared’ about the prospect of having to relocate miles away from their families and the community they love.
Debbie said: “I was born and raised in Irlam, I’ve got family and friends who live in Irlam and even my mum used to live in Astley Court before she passed away.
“I don’t know where they’re going to end up putting any of us. After the meeting a couple of us were talking and we were worried and scared about where we’re going to end up.”
Staff members who work at the homes say they were left blindsided by the plans, with many only finding out through social media or hearsay as they were not invited to the meetings.
A staff member who asked to remain anonymous said: “We’re unsure what to do because we’ve all
Nobody is being asked to leave their current home and we want to do all we can to avoid unsettling tenants Nigel Sedman, ForHousing
got bills and mortgages to pay, so do we look for employment elsewhere, or do we stay because we love where we work?” News about the impending closure of the homes has rocked the communities, with petitions being set up to save Astley Court and Monica Court.
A concerned family member whose mother lives at Monica Court said: “She is 89 and suffers from early onset dementia and Parkinson’s. You can’t just uproot her. She has lived in Monton for over 30 years.”
Irlam ward councillor Lewis Nelson has rallied against the decision and has appealed to ForHousing to ‘hand the building over’ to the community.
He said: “Astley Court is the only place of its kind in the area and the residents are proud to call it home.
Astley Court is an outstanding community asset.
“If ForHousing feel they are incapable of running it any longer, they should get around the table with the council, residents and union representatives and hand the building over to be run in the interest of our community.”
Sharmina August, ward councillor for Monton, said: “We’re completely against the closure. These are some of the most vulnerable people in our community.
“We don’t think this is in the best interest of residents and we’re really concerned about it and it is something we as ward councillors will be opposing completely.
“I understand, as well, that it was the first time staff was told and we’ve got a lot of concerned staff not knowing what their future will be.
“We don’t have enough facilities in our city to take care of people as it is. To close them down based on considerations of profit is really mercenary if I’m honest.”
Nigel Sedman, Group Director of
Homes at ForHousing, said: “We are dedicated to improving lives and ensuring everyone has a high-quality home where they can thrive.
“Last week we spoke with the tenants and residents of both Monica and Astley Court and their families to let them know that from now, no one else will be moving into these schemes.
“This is because over the coming years we are going to phase out the use of these buildings as extra care schemes as they cannot meet the standards we want to provide to current and future tenants.
“ForHousing has been engaging with officers from Salford Council about our future plans and we will continue to do so.
“Nobody is being asked to leave their current home and we want to do all we can to avoid unsettling tenants in Monica and Astley Court.
“When the time is right, we will be working with tenants and their families, supporting them to find a suitable home that meets their current and future needs.”