The Sunday Post (Newcastle)

Family rush to rehome twins with dementia after crisis forced closure

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Margaret Kerr and her twin sister Janette Millar, both 83, were forced to leave Broomfield Court Care Home in Barmulloch, Glasgow, when operator Larchwood said it was no longer profitable, blaming rising energy bills.

Margaret’s son Jim said: “We were told it was closing at the start of April and there wasn’t much help given to relatives.

“It was more or less left to family to find another care home. We were promised a lot of support from social work but that never materialis­ed at all. We were quite keen on keeping the two of them together because, although they have dementia, they do still recognise each other.

“Our first choice of care home didn’t have space. My brother and I had to go around a lot of care homes until we found one that could take my mum and my aunt. There was a bit of time pressure until we identified Mavisbank Care

Home in Bishopbrig­gs. It was a lot of turmoil we could all have done without. My mum has coped with the move because she doesn’t really know her surroundin­gs at all any more but my aunt, Janette, has been quite badly affected. Her vascular dementia has gotten a lot worse.

“I don’t want to blame it all on the move because it was getting worse at Broomfield Court but there is no doubt she has been affected by the trauma of the move. It was not a great experience all round.

“Even the logistics of the move were difficult. We thought we would have to arrange a taxi because they couldn’t arrange transport for us right up until the last minute. I also had to pay a removal firm to take the furniture.

“I can’t fault the care home staff or the standard of care but I just feel there should have been a bit more help offered. Relatives were just left high and dry.”

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Margaret and Janette

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