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We’re shutting - find a new nursing home
Reporter: Karen Doherty
Date online: 25 January 2013
A 97-year-old woman and other frail pensioners were given just days to leave their nursing home when the owners took the decision to close.
Families of 10 residents at Yew Trees Care Home in Chadderton faced a frantic scramble when they heard - on January 16 - that the private home in Sycamore Avenue was closing today. Oldham Council quickly stepped in to help.
The home has been run by brothers Adam (26) and Ryan (24) McCarley since the death of their mother, Karen over two years ago. The brothers also took over Peace Haven Nursing Home in Blackley — where residents had less than 48 hours notice when it closed last April.
Hugh Fitzpatrick (73) and his 97-year-old mother, Annie Winterbottom, were among the Yew Trees residents.
Hugh’s daughter Veronica Fitzpatrick said: “I am disgusted they have given us such short notice.
“It is hard enough to find a new home for one person, let alone two. They must have known the home was on its way out long before this.”
Miss Fitzpatrick’s father and grandmother moved to Werneth Lodge Care Home on Wednesday.
Veronica added: “Dad has managed OK but I think it has thrown gran quite a bit, especially because she has been quite ill. When it all happened she was in hospital so didn’t really know about it until Tuesday.”
Councillor Sue Dearden said all the residents had moved to new homes by yesterday.“The owners of Yew Trees only informed us on January 11 of their decision to close. They were legally obliged to give us three months’ notice.”
The owners declined to comment.
Comments
Would there be a need for private nursing homes if people took the responsibilty to look after there parents instead of shutting them away?
It makes you sick. On 31 October 2012 in a speech Cameron said: "We should judge our society on how we deal with needy and vulnerable people." Our country is a disgrace.
No doubt there will be a contract stating the notice period which can be given, and that all the residents agreed to that when they began their stay there. Trying to suggest that working within those contract terms is treating people with no respect or dignity is risible. There are those out there who want the world given to them on a plate. Families used to care about their own elders, now they see them as a burden to be kept out of sight, dealt with by the state, that's the real disgrace.
Yes disgusting. I live in Brisbane Australia and the state government are closing a lot of the nursing homes, I dont know where they expect them to go. I feel sorry for the residents most of them would think of the nursing home as there home and other residents as family.
the only peoplewho have failed here are the owners,the council can only assess homes validity on the information they are presented with,with regards to families,support is given to enable them to remain in the community but unfortunately due to various situations they may need residential care,this is a very emotional time for all involved and they do feel a great amount of guilt and failure for their relatives,unless you have had experience of this situation it is unfair to comment
I can't agree with you Diane. The owners own the home, it is their property and they can if they wish cease trading, within the contracts that the residents have signed, they have not failed in any way.
If the children of the elderly actually cared about them instead of expecting the state to look after them then situations like this would be rare.
@ OLDHAMGENT, My gran had to go into private nursing ( which she paid for after selling her house ) NOT BECAUSE WE DIDNT CARE, because we couldnt manage her 24 hour needs. You have no idea how hard a decision it was to make and cost if you can make such a stupid comment.
For the majority of people it's one of the most upsetting decisions they have to make in their life and in many cases people struggle on until the situation is just impossible. Before anyone makes a comment about people not caring they should think how difficult it must be looking after someone who doesn't even know who you are or can't communicate with you , these things happen and with the best will in the world caring at home 24/7 is impossible.
FLAKE, we didnt shut our gran away, I find your comment very offensive even for you. We had to sell her house to pay for her care due to her 24 hour needs. I loved my gran and the decision to go to private nursing was hard. As we all work how do you want us to look after her. Why dont you think about things before you write them. Very hurtful comment.
Fitton Hill, couldn't agree more with you re the comments of Flake and others. In times past wives stayed at home, these days both have to work because of low wages and sky high prices, and people needing 24/7 care would spend a large part of the day alone. Also many elderly people choose to go in homes because they don't want to burden their children. There are people like Flake who make everything simple, and then there are those who live in the real world.
Flake. "The owners own the home..... They have not failed in any way" if you think that, then I suggest you actually READ the article, particularly the bit that says"Yew Trees only informed us onJanuary 11th.... They were LEGALLY OBLIGED TO GIVE US 3 MONTHS' NOTICE" They failed quite spectacularly and should be prosecuted. These laws are in place to protect the vulnerable.
Have Your Say
Perhaps it's time for more stringent checks to be carried out on Private nursing homes and their owners.
In the 21st century it's unbelievable that the elderly are treated with no respect or dignity. This story together with others in the national news concerning private nursing homes shows that a Dickensian world still exists where the elderly are reduced to no more than a commodity.
You have to wonder how some people sleep at night.
By Mollythefrog @ 25/01/2013 13:44:59