Elderly residents forced to move out as authorities shut care home down

Families were told on Monday they would have until the end of the week to find alternative accommodation for residents living at Holme Bank on Stockwell Road, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton.

Fifteen elderly residents were staying at the home, many suffering with deteriorating health and conditions such as dementia.

Owner Norman Remington said the health watchdog and Wolverhampton Council had acted swiftly after concerns about the care home were raised. Around 30 staff have been made redundant as a result of the closure.

Mr Remington, who has owned the home for 33 years, said the day-to-day running of the home had been left to a care manager who left her position last month, and that he was 'devastated' by the closure.

The city council said a 'number of significant concerns' were raised by Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors. An unannounced visit was made on August 30 followed by a full inspection on September 4 and 5.

Concerns surrounded management, administration of medication and meeting residents' dietary needs, particularly with people who have swallowing difficulties.

Pauline Walker-Shelton's 90-year-old mother Ruby Banks, who has dementia, is one of the residents who has been forced to leave at short notice. She had to hurriedly arrange a new place for her vulnerable mother.

She said: "All the families have been quite distressed. At 7pm on Monday we couldn't do anything so not many people have slept. Residents have been getting anxious and relatives have been crying."

Shocked

Families were left shocked when they were told the home was closing.

Mrs Walker-Shelton, from Perton, whose mother has lived at the home for four years, said she had already had concerns about care.

She said: "Mom had a pressure sore so severe it went to grade four. A district nurse blew the whistle.

"There was a big meeting on Monday afternoon and the owner said he couldn't get the staff to replace the care manager. We had about 48 hours to find somewhere else. She had to be moved by ambulance. The CQC had major concerns, they couldn't guarantee the wellbeing of residents.

"We have had support from social services. People have been in doing assessments with residents trying to find places."

"It was a very good care home until four years ago when they changed care manager. The majority of staff, the ones I have dealt with have been very good."

Mr Remington, 73, said: "The CQC launched an inspection of the home and they found it to be severely wanting in many areas. Their concerns were founded and they decided to move towards closing us.

"I have been co-operating with the council to get everything sorted out. Social services have been in this week to get all the residents moved elsewhere."

Mr Remington claimed the home had been 'completely mismanaged' and that the issues raised by the CQC had come as a 'complete shock'.

He added: "I'm devastated because this is my livelihood and business. The families are extremely upset and they can't understand why it has been done so quickly by the CQC and the local authority. Residents are extremely upset at having to move from somewhere they regarded as home."

Councillor Sandra Samuels, head of adult services at the city council, said: “A number of concerns have been reported to the council and the Care Quality Commission in recent weeks about poor standards at Holme Bank, and council officers have been present at the home over the last few days to support staff at the home to carry out their caring role, maintain staffing levels and keep the home running safely.

"This situation is obviously not tenable, and therefore it has been decided to find alternative accommodation for Holme Bank's residents."