Financial impact of crisis forces home to close
► HEADS OF the Jewish Choice care home in Wembley have announced that it will close later this year because of the “financial consequences of the pandemic”.
Spokesperson Paul Weinstein told the JC the closure was a “huge blow” to the tight-knit community of staff and those cared for.
More than 50 employees and 38 residents of the home and a nearby independent living facility will be affected by the decision.
Only 29 of the home’s 51 beds are currently occupied. “It’s the nature of the world at the moment,” Mr Weinstein reflected. “People’s loved ones aren’t putting them in care homes.”
Seven Jewish Choice residents died from coronavirus during the first wave of the pandemic but the home has been Covid-free since spring.
Some of the carers have spent their working lives at Jewish Choice and the news was “absolutely devastating for them”, Mr Weinstein said. The charity has sounded out other care home providers about vacancies at their establishments.
Although a closure date has not been set, the charity — whose origins date back almost 300 years — expects “arrangements will be made with comparable care homes and in consultation with local authorities and the Care Quality Commission to make a seamless transfer of residents” by autumn.
“We’re not kicking them out,” Mr Weinstein stressed. “We are concerned about their wellbeing and would like to make sure that they have the second vaccines.” All residents and staff have received their first Covid jabs.
The loved ones of residents had been sent a list of “appropriate” alternative accommodation. Although Jewish Choice had spoken to Jewish Care and other providers, “it’s not for us to dictate where people go”.
Jewish Choice chair Bernard Mocatta also paid tribute to the “heroic and selfless work” of staff. However, “the financial consequences of the pandemic have caused serious disruption to the home’s finances. The home is losing money at too high a rate for us to continue. Staffing is already at a level that cannot be cut further to comply with the government’s standards of cover and care. We are hopeful that we can arrange an orderly placement of our residents and treat our wonderful staff in a fair manner.”
The home was formerly known as Edinburgh House and, prior to that, as the Spanish and Portuguese Jews’ Home.
People’s loved ones aren’t putting them in care homes’