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'Think about people' council told in row over care homes
IMPASSIONED supporters of The Cedars care home urged officials at Lincolnshire County Council to think about 'people and not buildings.'
Around 60 people went to a public meeting to discuss the proposed closure of the Morton Terrace care home at the Gainsborough Old Hall.
Feelings ran high as carers, relatives and staff members voiced their anxieties over the council’s plans to close eight homes across the county.
The county council is proposing ‘a new vision of care’ and aims to replace the care homes with specialised dementia care centres that will ‘change the face of adult care.’
Nick Smith, head of adult social care services, and Carolyn Kus, adult social care services, were both on hand to answer questions from the floor.
At Monday evening’s meeting, a short film showing images of a ‘modern’ care facility in Lincolnshire was held as an example to homes like The Cedars – and this sparked criticism from several people in attendance.
”We already have modern facilities and decor and we can match any kind of warm welcome. Why can’t we just maintain the building we have?” said a Cedars staff member.
”In new buildings, there seems to be a focus on ensuite-bathrooms. In my experience, people who have them in their room don’t use them.”
Another man’s comments were met with applause when he said: ”You don’t seem to want to keep The Cedars, nobody seems to be fighting their corner.”
One woman spoke out saying: ”I agree with people being given the chance to stay in their homes but sometimes their homes become their prisons.”
Another man criticised the county council for passing the care homes off on to private companies which are there for profit-making, adding: ”I should be able to trust my county council and I don’t – full stop.”
Pat O’Connor, county councillor, also spoke out against the closure plans and praised the ‘excellence’ of The Cedars and the work they do.
He said: ”I have heard what has been said and as a county councillor for this area I have to say that the care vision does not accord with mine.”
”I would welcome someone in to build a brand new centre here in Gainsborough but I do not want to lose The Cedars. Let’s give the people a real choice.”
Mrs Kus responded: ”When we talk about our vision, we are talking longer term. We have an increasing elderly population and we want to improve the accommodation available.”
”This is a formal consultation and a decision will not be made until a report has been complied for members to vote on in March.”
”We are holding separate meeting with the staff and we have also held meetings at the homes for relatives, daycare users and residents.”
After the meeting, Sean Johnson, 57, of Heapham Road, said: ”I think they’ve already made their minds up. My mum was at The Cedars for two years and it is just brilliant.”
”The staff are great and they just do so much for people. My mum liked it better than being at home. Even if they do keep the staff on, there’s no way they’ll be able to stay together.”
Susan Hayden, a careworker at The Cedars, added: ”It might be a 30-year-old building but people I care for love being at The Cedars.”
”I think it would have been better to have more consultation over this at the outset.”
”They say they’ve been to three different care homes – one from the private sector, a charity-run one and a council-run one – but that’s not enough.”
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Weather for Gainsborough
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -2 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
