1 The fateful letter: “The Council has decided to consult on the future of your mum’s/dad’s Home… Nothing to worry about.”
Council has decided to close the home. Mortality rates start to rise even at this early stage.
2 The consultation: “We are calling this meeting to listen to your fears and opinions (and then we will ignore them and tell you what will happen).”
A meaningless farce to avoid a Judicial Review.
3 The second consultation: “We will use the utmost care.. won’t be rushed… nice private sector homes….”
Another meaningless farce
4 The second letter: “The Council has decided to close the home to new admissions and it will close on…”.
Are you surprised? Stress levels climb as do death rates.
5 The Manager: “It’s a good idea to move your mum/dad out as soon as possible before all the good places have gone. What about moving them to be nearer to you?”
Breaks up friendship groups which increases the risks.
6 Only respites arrive and go; no permanent residents arrive.
7 Pro-active assessments for Nursing Care, Residents in Hospital get referred to Nursing Homes.
Numbers drop, and the heart goes out of the home.
8 The Staff: Redundancy notices for the experienced staff who go to be replaced by agency employees.
9 Social functions cease, the happy vibrant home becomes dull and lifeless.
10 Respites stop arriving, there is a“natural decline”, with capacity down to 50%.
11 The Manager: “Don’t you think your mum/dad would be better off in a …”
12 The Social Worker: “I have been appointed to help your mum and your family to move with the minimum disruption.”
13 More residents move out and so do staff, who are now down to 25%.
14 Pressure increases. Social Workers phone and visit more often.
15 More residents move out, staff leave to be replaced by nearly all agency employees. There is now one manager and only two to five residents left. Death rates are climbing.
16 The home closes.
17 Director of Social Services congratulates all concerned on a trouble-free move.
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